The doctor's letter, an important document

It is usually two pages long, more or less understandable and should be handed in to the family doctor: the doctor's letter. Who gets it, what does it say, and should patients read it? The key facts about the document.

Who is the doctor's letter for?

After inpatient treatment in the hospital or after an examination by a specialist, patients receive a doctor's letter. After a hospital stay, this is also referred to as a discharge letter. The purpose is the same: a doctor shares information with a colleague. The patient is the deliverer - the postman.

Most doctors give the letter at the same time, some submit it by post. As a rule, the patient must remember to take the paper with him the next time he visits the doctor.

What's in it

The diagnosis, the examinations carried out, their results and recommendations for therapy are listed. However, the further course of action is not mandatory. The family doctor decides in consultation with the patient and sometimes prescribes another remedy.

Why do I have to wait?

If a finding is still pending, such as a tissue sample, the report may be delayed. There is no deadline for the doctor's letter. But doctors should write it promptly. "In the case of urgency, that also means immediately," says Jens Wagenknecht from the German General Practitioners' Association.

And if the doctor's letter is missing?

"The patient should ask if they are leaving a clinic, for example," says Wagenknecht. But if important information is missing when moving from one clinic to another, doctors should consult their colleagues over the phone. Wagenknecht: "This is essential for the continuation of the treatment."

How can I understand the doctor's letter?

Do you want to know what has been written about you? It is often difficult to understand the technical jargon. "Patients are welcome to ask questions. A good doctor explains difficult terms," ​​says Dr. Michael Mawad, internist in Munich. Health insurance companies or patient consultations also support patients.

The website http://edexme.com is also helpful. You can upload your findings and have medical students translate them into easy-to-understand language for free. The health ministers of the federal states, by the way, are calling for more understandable texts in medical letters.

Can I copy the doctor's letter?

The doctor's letter is part of the patient file and can be given to the patient on request. "For some medical reports, disclosure is expressly permitted only with the consent of the doctor who created it," says Wagenknecht.

In many cases, it even makes sense for patients to have the reports. For example, in people who have several illnesses and are cared for at home. "In this way, a doctor who doesn't know the patient can quickly get an impression in an acute situation and make an appropriate decision on treatment for the person concerned," says Wagenknecht.

When is the e-doctor's letter available?

It will probably take years before the doctor's letter is saved and sent electronically. But the advantages are clear: less paperwork, more reliable and faster transmission, avoidance of double and incorrect treatment. In the case of rehabilitation immediately after an operation, the therapy recommendation would be immediately visible.

Today, the report often reaches the practices too late, according to a survey by the Berlin School of Public Health. General practitioner Wagenknecht supports the doctor's letter in a digital patient file: "The doctor would have a quick overview. In addition, the patients would finally have all the important documents at hand. Access should also be possible via a smartphone, for example."