Under Medicare guidelines, the discharge note (discharge summary) is required for each episode of treatment. This document can be a progress report written by the therapist and should cover the reporting period from the last progress report to the date of discharge. However, some therapy providers may want therapists to include a summary of the entire episode. Therapists should consider the discharge note/summary to be the last opportunity to justify the medical necessity of the entire treatment episode. In addition, some SNF therapy providers may also want the physician to sign the discharge note/summary but it is not necessary to do so. However, a physician order discharging the care is necessary which requires the physician’s signature and should be signed by the physician within 30 days; best practice is within 14 days.
If your company/facility requires a physician’s signature on the discharge note/summary, I would refer to your company/facility for guidance.