Facsimile communication between emergency departments and GPs, and patient data confidentiality.
OBJECTIVE
To assess general practitioners' perceptions of the effectiveness of facsimile notification of their patients being admitted from the emergency department (ED), and its adequacy in terms of patient confidentiality.


METHODS
Questionnaire survey, before and after the initiation of facsimile notification.


METHODS
A provincial community of approximately 120,000 residents in Victoria.


METHODS
Changes in GPs' ratings of communication with the ED; acceptability of facsimile notification; and concerns about patient confidentiality.


RESULTS
77 of 85 GPs participated; only 44 (57.1%) returned both questionnaires. ED-GP communication ratings of "adequate" or better increased from 48% to 100% (P < 0.05). The proportion of GPs who were notified of all admissions increased from 0 to 41% (P < 0.05). The proportion of GPs who preferred facsimile for notification increased from 39% to 68% (P < 0.05). Most GPs found the initiative acceptable and reservations about confidentiality decreased from 36% to 16% (P < 0.05). 38 of the 887 patients admitted from the ED (4.3%) refused facsimile notification.


CONCLUSIONS
Facsimile improves ED-GP communications and may, in turn, improve the quality and continuity of patient care. Informed consent should be obtained from all patients.
Taylor
D M
DM
Ballarat Base Hospital, VIC.
Chappell-Lawrence
J
J
Graham
I S
IS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016494:Computer Security; D003219:Confidentiality; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016636:Telefacsimile / Q000592:standards*; D014739:Victoria