Quality assessment of discharge letters in a French university hospital

The quality of discharge letters has been evaluated in order to initiate a process of improved communications between the hospital and general practitioners. From each of 37 volunteer clinical departments of a French university hospital, a random sample of 30 stays was selected among the hospitalisations for one year. The quality of discharge letters was assessed according to recipients’ needs and to French legislation. In total, 1,024 medical records were relevant and were analysed. This study showed deficiencies in management of discharge letters in the hospital. It constitutes the first step of a quality improvement process based on the awareness of concerned actors through information feedback and the follow‐up of specific indicators.