American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a function of the discharge summary?

1. Providing information about the patient's insurance coverage

2. Ensuring the continuity of future care

3. Providing information to support the activities of the medical staff review committee

4. Providing concise information that can be used to answer information requests

The correct answer is: Providing information about the patient's insurance coverage

The discharge summary primarily serves several crucial functions related to patient care continuity and quality assurance within healthcare settings. It captures a patient’s clinical status upon discharge, ensuring that healthcare providers have a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and treatment for future care. This is essential for minimizing potential complications and facilitating a smooth transition to outpatient services or post-acute care. The discharge summary also plays a vital role in providing concise information to address any requests for patient information, which is needed for both clinical and administrative purposes. Additionally, it can contribute to the activities of the medical staff review committee by documenting relevant findings that inform quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. Providing information about the patient's insurance coverage, however, is not typically a function of the discharge summary. This information is generally managed through billing and financial departments rather than documented in clinical summaries aimed at aiding ongoing patient care. Therefore, among the functions listed, the focus of the discharge summary does not encompass insurance details, making it the correct choice for the function that is NOT part of its scope.