In Scotland a system called Key Information Summary (KIS) is available to assist in communicating important information about care which can be securely shared with a range of healthcare professionals and out of hours services.
KIS is only available in Scotland.
What is KIS?
Key Information Summary (KIS) is an extension to the existing Emergency Care Summary (ECS). It is created by the GP and with consent of the patient. It is designed to support patients with long term conditions or who have an advanced care plan in place. Information is available to ECS users in NHS 24, out of hours organisations, accident and emergency units, the Scottish ambulance service and hospices.
The KIS usually includes the following information:
- Medication
- Allergies or reactions to medicines
- Contact information
- Care plans
- Next of kin and carer details
- Wishes or special instructions for care
- Management plans if the person has a long term condition or advanced care plan.
- Preferred place of care
Each entry to the KIS is dated at the point when the item was added and any changes must be dated accordingly. Patients may also keep a printed copy of their own KIS information and carers are informed that their details have been added to the KIS.
For any patient the following information should be included in any planned discharge to allow patients who want terminal care at home with support, provided this is safe and possible to arrange.
- Acute diagnosis and functional status at discharge
- Any communication or memory problems
- Prescribing updates
- Current health and social care needs, including an anticipatory care plan
- Follow up plans / visits by stroke nurse
- Patient’s and carer’s understanding of likely course of events
- Preferred place of care, and of final care if discussed
- DNACPR status
- Request to start of update a KIS using above and other data
Page last reviewed: 16 Jan 2023
