When reviewing past medical records, where should the summary be included according to best practices?

Including a summary within the History of Present Illness (HPI) section is best practice because the HPI is dedicated to outlining the patient's current symptoms and the context surrounding them. The HPI provides a narrative that helps paint a comprehensive picture of the patient's current health status and any progressions or changes in their condition.

By placing the summary of past medical records in the HPI, the clinician can effectively incorporate relevant historical context that may impact the patient's current presentation, thereby facilitating better clinical decision-making and continuity of care. This integration ensures that the provider has immediate access to important historical details when assessing the current complaint, making it easier to connect past health issues with present concerns.

Other sections, such as the medical history or discharge summary, serve different purposes. The medical history typically encompasses a broader overview of the patient's past illnesses and surgeries rather than specifically summarizing previous records in relation to the current visit. The discharge summary is meant to document the care provided during the visit and the plan for future care, rather than serve as a place for immediate context regarding the current illness. Follow-up visit notes also focus on the patient's condition since the last appointment, and incorporating past records would not align with their primary purpose.