Assessment of formats and completeness of paper-based referral letters among urban hospitals in Rwanda: a retrospective baseline study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patient referral is a process in which a healthcare provider decides to seek assistance due to the limitations of available skills, resources and services offered locally. Paper-based referrals predominantly used in low-income countries hardly follow any procedure. This causes a major gap in communication, coordination, and continuity of care between primary and specialized levels, leading to poor access, delay, duplication and unnecessary costs. The goal of this study is to assess the formats and completeness of existing paper-based referral letters in order to improve health information exchange, coordination, and continuity of care.

Methods

A retrospective exploratory research was conducted in eight public and three private healthcare facilities in the city of

SUBMITTER: Kalume Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9706939 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature