A review of the role of information technology in discharge communications in Australia.

Information technology is believed to be useful for the communication of discharge information between hospitals and community-based health practitioners. At least 20 projects were conducted in Australia between 1993 and 1997 to explore this idea. The value of these projects was at least $618,000. Despite this level of activity there is no good evidence, either from these projects or the international literature, to suggest that information technology can improve the quality of discharge communications.