The impact of the quality of communication from nephrologists to primary care practitioners: A literature review

Current Medical Research and Opinion

Volumn 30, Issue 10, 2014, Pages 2093-2101

  Jiwa, Moyez ^a   Chakera, Aron ^b   Dadich, Ann ^c   Ossolinski, Gemma ^d   Hewitt, Vivien ^e  

^a CURTIN UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^b SIR CHARLES GAIRDNER HOSPITAL   (Australia)

^c UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN SYDNEY   (Australia)

^d CURTIN UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

^e Fremantle Hospital and Health Service   (Australia)

Author keywords

Communication; Nephrology; Outcomes; Primary care

Indexed keywords

COMMUNICATION SKILL; GENERAL PRACTITIONER; HOSPITAL; HUMAN; INFORMATION DISSEMINATION; INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION; MEDICAL SPECIALIST; NEPHROLOGIST; NEPHROLOGY; PATIENT CARE; PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE; REVIEW; HEMODIALYSIS; INTERDISCIPLINARY COMMUNICATION; MEDICAL LITERATURE; PATIENT REFERRAL; RENAL INSUFFICIENCY; STANDARDS; TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT;

HEMODIALYSIS UNITS, HOSPITAL; HUMANS; INTERDISCIPLINARY COMMUNICATION; MEDICAL WRITING; NEPHROLOGY; PHYSICIANS, PRIMARY CARE; QUALITY IMPROVEMENT; REFERRAL AND CONSULTATION; RENAL INSUFFICIENCY;

EID: 84925281344     PISSN: 03007995     EISSN: 14734877     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1185/03007995.2014.936932     Document Type: Review

References (49)

1. O'Donnell CA. Variation in GP referral rates: what can we learn from the literature? Fam Pract 2000;17:462-71
2. Ringberg U, Fleten N, Deraas TS, et al. High referral rates to secondary care by general practitioners in Norway are associated with GPs' gender and specialist qualifications in family medicine, a study of 4350 consultations. BMC Health Serv Res 2013;13:1-10
3. Barnett ML, Song Z, Landon BE. Trends in physician referrals in the United States, 1999-2009. Arch Intern Med 2012;172:163-70
4. Navaneethan SD, Nigwekar S, Sengodan M, et al. Referral to nephrologists for chronic kidney disease care: is non-diabetic kidney disease ignored? Nephron Clin Pract 2007;106:c113-18
5. Mendelssohn DC, Kua BT, Singer PA. Referral for dialysis in Ontario. Arch Intern Med 1995;22:2473-8
6. Mendelssohn DC, Curtis B, Yeates K, et al STARRT Study Investigators. Suboptimal initiation of dialysis with and without early referral to a nephrologist. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2011;9:2959-65
7. Roderick P, Jones C, Drey N, et al. Late referral for end-stage renal disease: a region-wide survey in the south west of England. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2002;17:1252-9
8. Cass A, Cunningham J, Arnold PC, et al. Delayed referral to a nephrologist: outcomes among patients who survive at least one year on dialysis. Med J Aust 2002;177:135-8
9. Siew ED, Peterson JF, Eden SK, et al. Outpatient nephrology referral rates after acute kidney injury. J Am Soc Nephrol 2012;23:305-12
10. Wavamunno MD, Harris DC. The need for early nephrology referral. Kidney Int 2005;67:S128-32
11. Huisman RM. The deadly risk of late referral. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2004;19:2175-80
12. Narva AS. Optimal preparation for ESRD. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2009;4(Suppl 1):S110-13
13. Dickmeyer JP. Chronic kidney disease management: challenges and opportunities. Manag Care 2003;12(Suppl 7):15-20
14. Uhlig K. K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines: recommended action plan for chronic kidney disease. Manag Care 2003;12(Suppl 7):3-9
15. Foy R, Hempel S, Rubenstein L, et al. Meta-analysis: effect of interactive communication between collaborating primary care physicians and specialists. Ann Intern Med 2010;152:247-58
16. Stevens KK, Woo YM, Rodger RSC, et al. Discharging patients from the nephrology clinic to primary care - will they get appropriate monitoring of renal function? QJM 2009;102:425-8
17. Bowman BT, Kleiner A, Bolton WK. Comanagement of diabetic kidney disease by the primary care provider and nephrologist. Med Clin
18. Pellegrino B, Schmidt RJ. Why work together? Developing effective comanagement strategies for the care of patients with CKD. Adv Chron Kidney Dis 2011;18:396-9
19. Berns JS, Szczech LA. What is the nephrologist's role as a primary care provider? We all have different answers. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2007;2:601-3
20. Zimmerman DL, Selick A, Singh R, et al. Attitudes of Canadian nephrologists, family physicians and patients with kidney failure toward primary care delivery for chronic dialysis patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2003;18:305-9
21. Salisbury C, Sampson F, Ridd M, et al. How should continuity of care in primary health care be assessed? Br J Gen Pract 2009;59:e134-41
22. Gulliford M, Naithani S, Morgan M. What is 'continuity of care'? J Health Serv Res Pol 2006;11:248-50
23. Donaldson MS. Defining and measuring interpersonal continuity of care. Med Care Res Rev 2001;58:255-90
24. Haggerty JL, Reid RJ, Freeman GK, et al. Continuity of care: a multidisciplinary review. Br Med J 2003;327:1219-21 25.
25. Saultz JW. Defining and measuring interpersonal continuity of care. Ann Fam Med 2003;1:134-43
26. Glasziou P, Haynes B. The paths from research to improved health outcomes. ACP Journal Club 2005;142:A8-10
27. DH (Department of Health). Health reform in England: update and next steps. Leeds: DH (Department of Health), 2005
28. DHA (Department of Health and Ageing). Primary health care reform in Australia. Barton, ACT: DHA (Department of Health and Ageing), 2009
29. Del Mar CB, Freeman GK, van Weel C. 'Only a GP?': is the solution to the general practice crisis intellectual? Med J Aust 2003;179:26-9
30. Campbell JL. Provision of primary care in different countries. Br Med J 2007;334:1230-1
31. Schoen C, Osborn R, Doty MM, et al. A survey of primary care physicians in eleven countries, 2009: perspectives on care, costs, and experiences. Health Affairs 2009;28:w1171-83
32. Fox AT, Palmer RD, Crossley JG, et al. Improving the quality of outpatient clinic letters using the Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters (SAIL). Med Educ 2004;38:852-8
33. Bergkvist A, Midlov P, Hoglund P, et al. Improved quality in the hospital discharge summary reduces medication errors - LIMM: Landskrona Integrated Medicines Management. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2009;65:1037-46
34. Bell CM, Schnipper JL, Auerbach AD, et al. Association of communication between hospital-based physicians and primary care providers with patient outcomes. J Gen Intern Med 2009;24:381-6
35. Australian Medical Association. AMA Position Statement: Referrals within the Profession, 2007. Barton, ACT: Australian Medical Association, 2007. Available at: https://ama.com.au/position-statement/referrals-within-profession-2007. Last accessed 6 May 2014
36. Garasen H, Johnsen R. The quality of communication about older patients between hospital physicians and general practitioners: a panel study assessment. BMC Health Serv Res 2007;7:133
37. Campbell B, Vanslembroek K, Whitehead E, et al. Views of doctors on clinical correspondence: questionnaire survey and audit of content of letters. Br Med J 2004;328:1060-1
38. Crossley GM, Howe A, Newble D, et al. Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters (SAIL): performance assessment using outpatient letters. Med Educ 2001;35:1115-24
39. Kripalani S, LeFevre F, Phillips CO, et al. Deficits in communication and information transfer between hospital-based and primary care physicians: implications for patient safety and continuity of care. JAMA 2007;297:831-41
40. Newton J, Eccles M, Hutchinson A. Communication between general practitioners and consultants: what should their letters contain? Br Med J 1992;304:821-4
41. Gilchrist J, Hookey S, Royal Melbourne Hospital. Pilot - structured outpatient letters to GPs and other referrers, October 2008. Unpublished, 2008. Available at: http://www.gpv.org.au/files/downloadable-files/Programs/GP%20Hospital%20Communication/Discharge%20Communication/Briefing-Pilot%20units%20Oct%2008-Gen%20Surg.doc. Last accessed 6 May 2014
42. Moore C, Wisnivesky J, Williams S, et al. Medical errors related to discontinuity of care from an inpatient to an outpatient setting. J Gen Intern Med 2003;18:646-51
43. Westerman RF, Hull FM, Bezemer PD, et al. A study of communication between general practitioners and specialists. Br J Gen Pract 1990;40:445-9
44. Keely E, Dojeiji S, Myers K. Writing effective consultation letters: 12 tips for teachers. Med Teach 2002;24:585-9
45. Stevens KK, Woo YM, Rodger RSC, et al. Discharging patients from the nephrology clinic to primary care - will they get appropriate monitoring of renal function? QJM 2009;102:425-8
46. Tattersall MH, Butow PN, Brown JE, et al. Improving doctors' letters. Med J Aust 2002;177:516-20
47. Burkey Y, Black M, Reeve H, Roland M. Long-term follow-up in outpatient clinics. 2: The view from the specialist clinic. Fam Pract 1997;14:29-33
48. Jiwa M, Freeman J, Tanner S. Correspondence between healthcare professionals: an evaluation of a medical student workshop on the importance of the discharge letter. Educ Prim Care 2006;17(2):155-61
49. Jiwa M, Meng X, O Shea C, et al. A randomised trial deploying a simulation to investigate the impact of hospital discharge letters on patient care in general practice. BMJ open 2014:in press. ACTRN12614000403639. Available from https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=366128. Last accessed 6 June 2014