[Delayed handling of epicrises--a persisting problem]

Area of Science:

• Healthcare communication
• Medical record transfer
• General practice

Context:

• In 1993, a study analyzed the timeliness of hospital to general practitioner (GP) report dissemination.
• Patient discharge information is crucial for continuity of care.

Purpose:

• To quantify the delay in receiving hospital reports by general practitioners.
• To identify factors contributing to the communication lag between hospitals and primary care physicians.

Summary:

• Average report reception time was 19 days for inpatients and 12 days for outpatients post-discharge.
• The findings highlight a substantial delay in information flow critical for patient management.

Impact:

• Understanding these delays can inform strategies to improve healthcare coordination.
• Enhanced communication can lead to better patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare delivery.