Selecting relevant case notes in OET Writing (Content and Conciseness)
Select a case note if the reader needs it to continue the patient's care, and leave it out if they don't. Current condition, medications and their changes, risks, social circumstances that affect care, and what you are asking the reader to do are usually relevant; hobbies, former occupations, resolved minor conditions and routine normal observations usually are not.
The one question to ask
For every line of the case notes, ask: does this reader need this to care for this patient? If the answer is yes, include it. If no, leave it out. If "partly", summarise it in a few words.
Usually relevant
- The reason for the letter and what you need the reader to do
- The current condition and recent progress
- Medications, especially anything new, stopped or changed, and anything the reader must supervise or monitor
- Risks: falls, pressure injuries, infection, deterioration
- Social circumstances that affect care: lives alone, stairs, carer availability, language or cognition
- Follow-up already arranged
Usually not relevant
- Hobbies and interests (unless they affect care)
- Former occupation
- Old, resolved conditions with no bearing on current care
- Routine normal observations
- The detailed day-by-day story of the admission
Why it matters twice
Missing a note the reader needs costs Content. Including notes they don't need costs Conciseness & Clarity — and uses up the words you needed for the important information. medEmu's report lists both: the notes you missed and the ones you could have left out. Check a letter free.