Information exchange between physicians and nurses

The need for communication between physicians and nurses in clinical practice is undisputed. However, they keep separate patient records. In this article a case study is reported on the needs for, and present state of, information exchange between physicians and nurses. Both groups kept paper patient records. The common information needs that were found were not covered by the formal structure of both records, nor by the exchange of written, structured messages. It is likely that most of their common needs are satisfied beyond the formal structures, particularly in unstructured text and verbal conversation. The advantages and disadvantages of these ways of communication are discussed. As the impact of quality assessment grows, the role of formal communication will enlarge.