title: Communication issues for the interdisciplinary community palliative care team.
abstract: This paper discusses the findings of a critical study that examined the communication patterns between nurses and general practitioners (GPs) providing palliative care in Australia. Interviews and focus groups involved 40 palliative care nurses who worked in the three settings of care: community, hospice and hospital. Issues that impeded effective communication strategies between palliative care nurses and GPs were networking, case management, multiple service providers, lack of standardized documentation and formal tracking of clients, along with difficulties in transmission of relevant practice knowledge. Supporting strategies for effective formal modes of communicating and reporting are described.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. a.street@latrobe.edu.au
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blackford
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019090:Case Management; D003142:Communication; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014739:Victoria