Connecting hospital and community care: the acceptability of a regional data linkage scheme

Lack of information on an individual's premorbid needs and services in place can impede the transition from community to acute care. We report on a trial of an electronic data linking system between Flinders Medical Centre and Metropolitan Domiciliary Care. A sample of 82 medical, nursing and allied-health staff across the organisations completed questionnaires concerning their level of satisfaction with the trialled system. Results supported the effectiveness of an electronic data linking system across the hospital-community interface. This system was effective in reducing labour costs, increasing organisational communication and devising appropriate discharge plans. Community staff indicated they were better informed about their client's medical and disability status and were able to play an active role in their client's treatment. This study provides more support to the implementation of a patient electronic data linking system focussed on older patients, with wider benefits including the reduction of unnecessarily long admission times and decreased demand on hospital beds.