Discharge instructions fail when they're written for the chart, not the owner — Latin drug names, no schedule, and "monitor for complications" with no idea what that means. A stressed owner in the parking lot needs to know exactly what to do, what's normal, and when to panic. This skill writes go-home notes an owner can actually follow.
Working from a brief
Given the visit/procedure and the plan, write the full discharge notes — translate everything to plain language, make the medication schedule concrete, and define the warning signs specifically. Note that these are owner-facing instructions; the clinical record is separate.
Required Inputs
Ask for (if not provided, else infer and label):
- The patient and what was done (procedure, diagnosis, hospitalization)
- Medications prescribed (drug, dose, route, frequency, duration)
- Restrictions and the recheck plan (activity, diet, sutures, follow-up timing)
Output Format
What we did (in plain terms)
A one-paragraph plain-language summary of the visit/procedure so the owner understands the context.
Medications
| Medication (what it's for) | How much | When | How to give | Until |
|---|
With practical tips (with/without food, how to pill a cat, don't double up if a dose is missed).
Home care
Activity restriction (specific: "leash walks only, no running or stairs for 10 days"), incision/bandage care, diet, and hygiene — each concrete and time-bound.
What's normal vs. call us
- Expected: mild grogginess, small bruising, reduced appetite for a day.
- Call the clinic if: (specific warning signs — not eating >24h, incision redness/discharge/opening, vomiting, lethargy, pain not controlled).
- Emergency now: the red-flag signs that mean go to an ER (trouble breathing, collapse, uncontrolled bleeding).
Recheck & contacts
When to come back (suture removal, recheck), the clinic number and hours, and the after-hours/emergency contact.
Quality Checks
- Medications are in plain language with a concrete schedule and how-to-give tips
- Activity/diet restrictions are specific and time-bound, not vague
- "Normal vs. call us vs. emergency" is clearly separated with specific signs
- The recheck plan and an after-hours/emergency contact are included
- Written at an owner's reading level — no untranslated clinical jargon
- Missed-dose and practical administration guidance is given
Anti-Patterns
- Drug names and doses with no schedule or plain-language purpose
- "Monitor for complications" with no definition of what to watch for
- No distinction between normal recovery and an emergency
- Missing the after-hours/emergency contact
- Chart-speak an ordinary owner can't parse
- Activity instructions too vague to follow ("take it easy")