What is an after visit summary?
The short answer: an after visit summary (AVS) is a paper or electronic document your clinic gives you after an appointment to recap the visit.1 Patients in one study said the most important parts include the reason for the visit, your medication list and follow-up plans.1 It's meant to help you remember the plan, but it isn't always complete or correct, so read it soon after the visit and ask the office about anything that looks off.
What an after visit summary is for
Clinicians and patients can use the AVS to reinforce tasks you're meant to do at home, to clarify health information, and to teach you about your condition.1 In one qualitative study, most patients saw it as a summary of the visit. A smaller group saw it as a summary of their overall health, and some carried it to show other clinicians, an emergency department or a pharmacist.1
Patients in that study also used it to clarify health issues with their doctor, remember what they needed to do, and share information with family and other providers.1
What it usually includes
What you get depends on your clinic and its record system. Patients in the same study said they most wanted these items:1
- Your clinician's contact information
- Follow-up appointments
- The reasons behind each medication and referral
- Vital signs
In a survey of 355 patients at one primary care practice, 45.2% of those who remembered getting an AVS said it included personalized instructions. The most common topics were medication information (59.4%), tasks before the next visit (57.9%), lifestyle advice (27.8%) and when to seek care (27.1%).2 That's one clinic, so yours may look different.
How to use yours
1. Read it the same day
In the San Francisco survey, 67.4% of patients said they looked at their AVS after the visit, and 31.6% shared it with friends or family.2 Reading it while the appointment is fresh makes it easier to spot something that doesn't match what you heard.
2. Check the plan against your own notes
Look for the medicines, tests and follow-up visits you discussed. MedlinePlus recommends sticking to the plan your provider gave you, including how to take your medicines and any follow-up visits.3 If you took notes, our guide to taking notes at an appointment shows a simple way to compare the two.
3. Watch for errors and confusing lists
Some patients in the study found it confusing when the summary split their medicines into separate lists for new, stopped and changed drugs. Both patients and clinicians preferred one list of what you take now.1 Some patients also found outdated problem lists or medication lists that didn't match what they actually took.1 Don't stop or change a prescribed medicine because of what a summary says. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
4. Call the office if something's unclear
MedlinePlus lists several reasons to contact your provider, including medicine side effects, new, unexplained or worsening symptoms, and other questions or concerns.3 You can also ask when to get in touch if your symptoms don't improve.3 If you think you're having an emergency, call 911.
5. Keep it somewhere you can find it
In the qualitative study, most patients said they eventually threw theirs out, though some kept it at home.1 If you see several doctors, keeping the latest one handy helps you answer questions about your medicines and recent visits.
Common questions
What is the difference between an after visit summary and visit notes?
An after visit summary is a recap written for you, with things like your medicines and next steps. Your clinician's visit notes are the clinical record of the appointment. You can ask your clinic how to get either one.
Why is my medication list on the summary wrong?
One study found that patients sometimes see outdated or inaccurate medication and problem lists on their summaries.1 Don't change anything on your own. Call the office or your pharmacist and ask them to check and correct the list.
What if I didn't get an after visit summary?
Ask the front desk or nurse before you leave, or check your patient portal. If you still have questions about the plan, call the office and ask them to go over it with you.
Sources
- Federman AD, et al. Patient and clinician perspectives on the outpatient after-visit summary. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. 2017;24(e1):e61–e68.
- Pathak S, et al. Patient-reported use of the after visit summary in a primary care internal medicine practice. Journal of Patient Experience. 2020;7(5):703–707.
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Make the most of your doctor visit. Reviewed September 2024.
This guide is general information and isn't medical or legal advice. Always follow the advice of your own doctor or care team. If you think you're having a medical emergency, call 911.