Mishap, I totally agree, there are lots of better ways, but until the huge numbers of managers understand how important getting that information out to GPs etc really is, then it won't happen. Because the role of the medical secretary is not seen as important, nobody is interested in trying to improve things. Having said that, I have been retired for three years so my knowledge might be out of date now. Electronic communication would be great, it would certainly save secretaries having to nag doctors for weeks to sign their letters so that they could be posted!
I experienced exactly the same as you with my dad. On his fifth, and final, admission I referred to his previous admissions to his nurse. She told me she knew nothing of these admissions and that they only had the notes for his current admission. How on earth could they make informed decisions about his treatment without knowledge of what had gone before?
JessM, yes, it could work for doctors to type up their own notes, for some. Others would find it more difficult, and actually we, as secretaries, quite often had to make the sentences make sense, obviously without changing the meaning, as not all doctors speak perfect English unfortunately.
It's a really difficult and complex problem actually, with faults and difficulties on all sides. I don't think there is a quick fix, apart from more staff, which isn't an option with the current financial cutbacks.
Sorry, I've gone in a bit, but it's something I feel very strongly about. I could have said a lot more!!