What term describes a summary of a patient's health status upon discharge?

The term that accurately describes a summary of a patient's health status upon discharge is commonly known as a discharge summary. This document serves a critical purpose in the healthcare process; it outlines the patient’s condition at the time of discharge, summarizes the care provided during hospitalization, includes treatment results, and provides instructions for follow-up care. The discharge summary ensures continuity of care by informing other healthcare providers and the patient about ongoing health needs and potential risks.

While other terms may reference health documentation, they are not specifically designed to capture the precise information or purpose of the discharge summary. A health overview could imply a broader examination of health but lacks the specific context of a discharge event. A patient summary might refer to various aspects of a patient’s medical history, but it may not focus exclusively on the discharge process. A completion report might suggest that a treatment or care process has concluded, but it does not convey the same detailed information regarding health status and follow-up care that a discharge summary does.