Patients' and Providers' Views on Causes and Consequences of Healthcare Fragmentation in the Ambulatory Setting: a Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with chronic conditions routinely see multiple outpatient providers, who may or may not communicate with each other. Gaps in information across providers caring for the same patient can lead to harm for patients. However, the exact causes and consequences of healthcare fragmentation are not understood well enough to design interventions to address them.

Objective

We sought to elicit patients' and providers' views on the causes and consequences of healthcare fragmentation.

Design and participants

We conducted a qualitative study with focus groups of patients and, separately, of providers (attending physicians and nurse practitioners) at an academic hospital-based primary care practice in New York City in June-August 2017. Patient participants were E

SUBMITTER: Kern LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6544669 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature