Primary care physicians’ communication preferences

Abstract

Describes a project undertaken to study the communication preferences of primary care physicians (PCPs) when they interact with Community Care Access Centres (called CCACs; they provide a brokering role coordinating community providers of health services). Specifically, examines how information technology can be utilized to enhance communication between these two types of health care providers. At present, physician notification of client admission to a CCAC is done inconsistently and often, due to confidentiality issues, only the client name and other notification data are faxed to the family practitioner. With a majority of the referrals originating directly from hospitals, CCACs wish to improve this communication link with PCPs in order to enhance the coordination of client care as well as the management of their clients’ health outcomes.