title: Evaluating communication between pediatric primary care physicians and hospitalists.
abstract: To determine the preferences for and satisfaction with communication between pediatric primary care physicians (PCPs) and hospitalists, 2 surveys (PCP and hospitalist versions with matching questions) were developed. Overall, PCPs were less satisfied than hospitalists with communication (P < .01). The 2 provider types had differing opinions on responsibility for care after hospital discharge, with hospitalists more likely than PCPs to assign responsibility to the PCP for pending labs (65% vs 49%; P < .01), adverse events (85% vs 67%; P < .01), or status changes (85% vs 69%; P < .01). Whereas satisfaction with and preferences for patient-related communication differed between hospitalists and PCPs, the incongruent views on the responsibility for care after patient discharge have major implications for safety particularly if poor communication occurs at discharge. Successful transitions from the hospital to primary care require communication between hospitalists and PCPs to be consistent, timely, and informative with responsibility for care discussed at discharge.
authors.affiliation: Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geskey
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.forename: Harry P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Bramley
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000592:standards; D020445:Hospitalists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010372:Pediatrics; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D000078329:Workforce