DO PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIANS PREFER DICTATED OR COMPUTER-GENERATED DISCHARGE SUMMARIES

Objective.-To determine the preference of primary care physicians for computer-generated vs dictated discharge summaries from a neonatal int ensive care unit. Design.-Survey mailed to primary care physicians. Se tting.-Regional referral area of a level III neonatal intensive care u nit. Participants.-Pediatricians and family medicine physicians caring for infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit. Results .-Of 58 questionnaires sent, 45 (78%) were returned. Overall, 33 physi cians (73%) either strongly or mildly preferred the computer-generated discharge summary; eight (18%) had no preference; and four (9%) prefe rred the dictated discharge summary (P<.001). The category of stronges t preference was relevance of information for continued patient care. Preference for type of discharge summary was not significantly influen ced by time in practice, type of practice, preference to read or scan summaries, or frequency of computer use. Conclusion.-Primary care phys icians prefer computed-generated discharge summaries to dictated disch arge summaries.