Enhancing continuity of information: essential components of consultation reports.
OBJECTIVE
To identify elements of data that have been shown to contribute to continuity of information between primary care providers and medical specialists providing care to adult asthma patients.


METHODS
Systematic review of the literature followed by a 2-round modified Delphi consensus process.


METHODS
Province of Ontario.


METHODS
Eight expert panelists, including 3 practising family physicians, a medical specialist knowledgeable in the treatment of asthma, a family physician previously involved in provincial initiatives related to primary care reform, an e-health technologist, a developer of evidence-based guidelines, and an operations and programs specialist.


METHODS
We completed a systematic literature review to identify important components of consultation reports. We then engaged an 8-member panel in a 2-round modified Delphi consensus process, which led to the identification of components deemed essential to good continuity of information.


RESULTS
After 2 rounds, expert panelists reached consensus on 15 components, referred to here as minimum essential elements, of consultation reports generated by medical specialists in response to referring primary care providers' consultation requests.


CONCLUSIONS
The expert panelists considered inclusion of the minimum essential elements in consultation reports essential to achieving good continuity of information. We assembled these elements in a suggested format for a consultation report. The format can be easily modified by practitioners caring for patients with other chronic diseases.
Berta
Whitney
W
Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, 155 College St, Suite 425, Toronto, ON M5T 3M6, Canada. whit.berta@utoronto.ca
Barnsley
Jan
J
Bloom
Jeff
J
Cockerill
Rhonda
R
Davis
Dave
D
Jaakkimainen
Liisa
L
Mior
Anne Marie
AM
Talbot
Yves
Y
Vayda
Eugene
E
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D019451:Information Management / Q000379:methods*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D055815:Young Adult