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01-04-2016 | Review Paper

Provider-to-Provider Communication during Transitions of Care from Outpatient to Acute Care: A Systematic Review

Authors: Ngoc-Phuong Luu, MD, MHS, Samantha Pitts, MD, MPH, Brent Petty, MD, Melinda D. Sawyer, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, Cheryl Dennison-Himmelfarb, PhD, RN, Romsai Tony Boonyasai, MD, MPH, Nisa M. Maruthur, MD, MHS

Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 4/2016

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Most research on transitions of care has focused on the transition from acute to outpatient care. Little is known about the transition from outpatient to acute care. We conducted a systematic review of the literature on the transition from outpatient to acute care, focusing on provider-to-provider communication and its impact on quality of care.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for English-language articles describing direct communication between outpatient providers and acute care providers around patients presenting to the emergency department or admitted to the hospital. We conducted double, independent review of titles, abstracts, and full text articles. Conflicts were resolved by consensus. Included articles were abstracted using standardized forms. We maintained search results via Refworks (ProQuest, Bethesda, MD). Risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the Downs’ and Black’s tool.

RESULTS

Of 4009 citations, twenty articles evaluated direct provider-to-provider communication around the outpatient to acute care transition. Most studies were cross-sectional (65 %), conducted in the US (55 %), and studied communication between primary care and inpatient providers (62 %). Of three studies reporting on the association between communication and 30-day readmissions, none found a significant association; of these studies, only one reported a measure of association (adjusted OR for communication vs. no communication, 1.08; 95 % CI 0.92–1.26).

DISCUSSION

The literature on provider-to-provider communication at the transition from outpatient to acute care is sparse and heterogeneous. Given the known importance of communication for other transitions of care, future studies are needed on provider-to-provider communication during this transition. Studies evaluating ideal methods for communication to reduce medical errors, utilization, and optimize patient satisfaction at this transition are especially needed.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Provider-to-Provider Communication during Transitions of Care from Outpatient to Acute Care: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ngoc-Phuong Luu, MD, MHS
Samantha Pitts, MD, MPH
Brent Petty, MD
Melinda D. Sawyer, MSN, RN, CNS-BC
Cheryl Dennison-Himmelfarb, PhD, RN
Romsai Tony Boonyasai, MD, MPH
Nisa M. Maruthur, MD, MHS
Publication date: 01-04-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0884-8734
Electronic ISSN: 1525-1497
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-015-3547-4

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ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

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