Impact of an electronic link between the emergency department and family physicians: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electronic information exchange is believed to improve efficiency and reduce resource utilization. We developed a Web-based standardized communication system (SCS) that enables family physicians to receive detailed reports of their patients' care in the emergency department. We sought to determine the impact of the SCS on measures of resource utilization in the emergency department and family physician offices.

Methods

We used an open 4-period crossover cluster-randomized controlled design. During 2 separate 10-week intervention phases, family physicians received detailed reports of their patients' emergency department visits over the Internet, and in the alternating control phases they received a 1-page copy of the emergency department notes by mail. The primary

SUBMITTER: Lang E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1373712 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature