Patient care coordination suffers due to poor communication between hospital clinicians and primary care providers, according to a recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Led by physicians at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the study examines responses of 58 clinicians in eight focus groups. The clinicians all practiced in North Carolina and in practices actively working to improve care transitions.
The study found primary care physicians and hospital clinicians did not communicate well or frequently did not communicate at all — some primary care physicians did not know patients from their practices had been to the hospital, according to a statement.
In other cases, it was unclear who was responsible for follow up tests after a hospital discharge or for home healthcare.
"Communication between hospitalists and PCPs around patient hospitalizations occurs infrequently and is associated with scenarios involving more serious patient issues, including readmissions, following discharge," the authors wrote.
More articles on integration and physician issues:
University of Minnesota opens nurse practitioner clinic
5 ways the PPACA has impacted physicians
Kaiser Permanente plans to offer 24/7 pediatric care on Maui