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Interfacility Transfers to General Pediatric Floors: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Communication
Jennifer L Rosenthal1, Megumi J Okumura2, Lenore Hernandez3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California.
Insights
Effective communication during pediatric patient transfers requires streamlined processes, quality handoffs, and positive physician relationships. Re-engineering transfer systems can improve care for children with special health care needs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Health Services Research
- Medical Communication
Background:
- Children with special health care needs often necessitate transfers between hospitals.
- Effective communication during interfacility transfers is crucial for patient care quality.
- Barriers and facilitators to pediatric transfer communication were explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify barriers and facilitators to effective interfacility pediatric transfer communication.
- Understand perspectives of referring and accepting physicians.
- Develop a conceptual model for effective communication.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology.
- Interviews conducted with referring and accepting physicians.
- Data analyzed through open and focused coding using ATLAS.ti.
Main Results:
- Three major categories emerged: streamlined transfer process, quality handoff and 2-way communication, and positive physician relationships.
- A conceptual model was developed integrating these categories.
- Proposed interventions include standardizing communication and using telemedicine.
Conclusions:
- Communication is integral to interfacility transfers.
- Re-engineering transfer systems is recommended to improve streamlining, handoff quality, and physician relationships.
- Enhanced communication positively impacts care for children with special health care needs.
Background:
Children with special health care needs often require health services that are only provided at subspecialty centers. Such children who present to nonspecialty hospitals might require a hospital-to-hospital transfer. When transitioning between medical settings, communication is an integral aspect that can affect the quality of patient care. The objectives of the study were to identify barriers and facilitators to effective interfacility pediatric transfer communication to general pediatric floors from the perspectives of referring and accepting physicians, and then develop a conceptual model for effective interfacility transfer communication.
Methods:
This was a single-center qualitative study using grounded theory methodology. Referring and accepting physicians of children with special health care needs were interviewed. Four researchers coded the data using ATLAS.ti (version 7, Scientific Software Development GMBH, Berlin, Germany), using a 2-step process of open coding, followed by focused coding until no new codes emerged. The research team reached consensus on the final major categories and subsequently developed a conceptual model.
Results:
Eight referring and 9 accepting physicians were interviewed. Theoretical coding resulted in 3 major categories: streamlined transfer process, quality handoff and 2-way communication, and positive relationships between physicians across facilities. The conceptual model unites these categories and shows how these categories contribute to effective interfacility transfer communication. Proposed interventions involved standardizing the communication process and incorporating technology such as telemedicine during transfers.
Conclusions:
Communication is perceived to be an integral component of interfacility transfers. We recommend that transfer systems be re-engineered to make the process more streamlined, to improve the quality of the handoff and 2-way communication, and to facilitate positive relationships between physicians across facilities.
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