Implementation of a New Discharge Card in the Department of Internal Medicine at Atbara Teaching Hospital.

introductionEffective discharge documentation is essential for safe transitions from hospital to community care. The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) outlines seven core data categories for patient discharge summaries. In low-resource settings, structured formats have been shown to improve completeness, clarity, and patient safety. This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to develop and implement a standardized discharge card in the Internal Medicine Department of Atbara Teaching Hospital, Sudan, adapted from HIQA standards. METHODOLOGY: The project followed a two-cycle audit (April-August 2025). In the first cycle, 50 discharge records were reviewed to identify gaps. Records were randomly selected from the pool of available patient files, and auditing was conducted by three physicians not directly involved in patient care during the study period. A standardized discharge card was co-developed with staff, including essential demographic, clinical, and follow-up details. Training was provided, and the tool was implemented. In the second cycle, 40 discharge records were audited. Data was analyzed using chi-square tests to compare pre- and post-intervention documentation rates.

resultsSignificant improvements were observed in gender documentation (46.8%→100%,

conclusionThe standardized discharge card significantly improved documentation in key patient safety domains. Sustained gains require ongoing staff training and regular audits. This model may also be generalizable to other departments and hospitals in low-resource settings.