Toward better care coordination through improved communication with referring physicians. 2009

Brian J Hess, and Lorna A Lynn, and Eric S Holmboe, and Rebecca S Lipner
American Board of Internal Medicine, 510 Walnut Street, Suite 1700, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA. bhess@abim.org

BACKGROUND Effective care coordination requires good physician-to-physician communication. The authors evaluated a new tool called the Communication with Referring Physicians Practice Improvement Module (CRP-PIM), which assesses and encourages improved communication among physician consultants and referring physicians. METHODS Eight-hundred three consultants (internists and subspecialists) completed a practice system survey and were rated by 12,212 referring physicians on 13 communication processes using a six-point scale. Consultants received an interactive performance report and selected targets for improvement. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, t tests, and factor analysis. RESULTS Mean overall rating was high, at 5.53 (SD 0.23, range 2.46-5.95); consultants still identified areas for improvement. The generalizability coefficient for overall ratings was 0.78. Factor analysis supported two categories of ratings associated with consultants' gender, subspecialty, residency performance ratings, and specific practice system features. CONCLUSIONS The CRP-PIM provides a psychometrically viable measure and encourages consultants to improve communication with referring physicians.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007400 Interprofessional Relations The reciprocal interaction of two or more professional individuals. Etiquette, Medical,Medical Etiquette,Relations, Interprofessional
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D012017 Referral and Consultation The practice of sending a patient to another program or practitioner for services or advice which the referring source is not prepared to provide. Consultation,Gatekeepers, Health Service,Hospital Referral,Second Opinion,Consultation and Referral,Health Service Gatekeepers,Hospital Referrals,Referral,Referral, Hospital,Referrals, Hospital,Consultations,Gatekeeper, Health Service,Health Service Gatekeeper,Opinion, Second,Opinions, Second,Referrals,Second Opinions
D003142 Communication The exchange or transmission of ideas, attitudes, or beliefs between individuals or groups. Miscommunication,Misinformation,Social Communication,Communication Programs,Communications Personnel,Personal Communication,Communication Program,Communication, Personal,Communication, Social,Communications, Social,Miscommunications,Misinformations,Personnel, Communications,Program, Communication,Programs, Communication,Social Communications
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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