Which document is essential for physical therapists to have in a patient's record?

The inclusion of discharge summaries in a patient's record is vital for physical therapists as it provides a comprehensive overview of the patient's progress throughout their therapy. This document summarizes the treatment provided, the patient's response to the therapy, and recommendations for future care or follow-up services. Discharge summaries serve multiple purposes: they ensure continuity of care by informing other healthcare providers or therapists about the patient's status and needs, they are important for documentation and legal purposes, and they assist with insurance claims by providing necessary information regarding the care provided.

While the other documents listed may have their own significance within the healthcare practice, they do not have the same direct relevance to the individual patient’s treatment record. Insurance claims forms are related to billing, quality assurance reports pertain to internal practice standards, and staff training records are related to the competency of the healthcare providers. None of these documents provide the same level of patient-specific information that is crucial for ongoing care and record-keeping as the discharge summary does.