> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://aftercaredocs.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Ask Questions About Your Hospital Discharge Document

> Search pre-extracted answers from your discharge paperwork, or ask new questions against the document. Every answer cites the exact line it came from.

The Ask screen lets you find answers to questions about your own paperwork. AfterCare pre-extracts common questions and their answers when it processes your document, and in API-connected mode you can also type a new question and ask it directly against the source text. In both cases, every answer is grounded in your document — AfterCare will not answer from general medical knowledge, and it says so explicitly when something isn't in the document.

<Warning>
  Answers on the Ask screen come from your discharge document, not from a
  medical professional. They are not medical advice and do not replace guidance
  from your care team. If you are unsure about anything in your recovery,
  contact your provider.
</Warning>

## Two modes: local search vs. API-connected

AfterCare operates in two modes depending on how your account is configured:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Local mode" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/features/ask">
    AfterCare searches the questions and answers it already extracted when it
    processed your document. Type in the search box to filter results. No new
    questions can be submitted — you are searching within what has already been
    found.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API-connected mode" icon="bolt" href="/features/ask">
    AfterCare can send a new question directly to the API, which looks it up
    against your original document text and returns an answer. The search box
    becomes **"Ask about your document…"** and an **Ask my document** button
    appears. Previously extracted Q\&A pairs are still shown below.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Asking a new question (API-connected mode only)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Type your question">
    Enter your question in the search box at the top of the Ask screen. Be as
    specific as you can — for example, *"Can I shower with my wound uncovered?"*
    rather than just *"shower"*.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Ask my document">
    Press the **Ask my document** button. AfterCare sends your question to the
    API, which searches your document text for a relevant answer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the answer and its citation">
    The answer appears in a card below the button. If your document contained
    relevant information, the answer is shown alongside a citation — for example,
    *"Lines 14–16"* — so you can find the original text in your paperwork.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the not-found message if needed">
    If the document does not contain an answer to your question, AfterCare says
    so explicitly: *"This wasn't found in your document — check with your care
    team."* You won't receive a plausible-sounding answer that came from
    somewhere other than your paperwork.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Pre-extracted Q\&A

Whether or not API mode is available, AfterCare shows a list of questions and answers it pulled from your document during processing. Use the search box to filter them by keyword.

<Note>
  Every pre-extracted answer includes a line-level citation — for example,
  *"From: Discharge instructions, line 22"* — so you can verify it against your
  original paperwork at any time. Answers that AfterCare could not ground in
  your document are not shown.
</Note>

## What counts as "in the document"

AfterCare treats your document as the only source of truth. If information appears in your paperwork, AfterCare can surface it. If it doesn't, AfterCare won't fabricate or interpolate an answer. This means:

* Questions about medications, doses, or restrictions will be answered only if your document discussed them.
* Questions about topics your document did not cover will return an explicit *not found* message.
* AfterCare never supplements your document with general medical knowledge.

<Tip>
  If you frequently ask the same question and it is already in the pre-extracted
  list, searching the list is faster than asking the API — results are instant
  because no network call is needed.
</Tip>


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