Improving the Outpatient Referral Process With Electronic Communications

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

200 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-11-30

Study Completion Date

2007-03-31

Brief Summary

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An electronic referral application will be developed and integrated into the existing outpatient information system. The primary goal of this software is to improve the quality and coordination of patient care by increasing physician-to-physician communication. The investigators anticipate that improved communications will also enhance physician and patient satisfaction and provide cost savings. These outcomes will be formally evaluated following implementation of the application.

Detailed Description

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A trial will be performed to test and quantify the benefits of electronic referrals. Primary care physicians (PCPs) from 2 community-based clinics will be recruited for enrollment. The control group will initiate referrals using the pre-existing paper forms; physician-to-physician communication can occur by e-mail, phone, or mail at the discretion of the referring physician as is currently the standard. Physicians randomized to the intervention arm will be asked to use the electronic application for every referral during the study period. For 6 months, every new referral initiated within the study groups will be assessed for the completeness of patient information and timing of feedback to the referring physician via physician surveys. In addition, a subgroup of patients in the control and intervention arms will be surveyed to assess the impact of the intervention on patient satisfaction with the referral process.

Conditions

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Communication Interprofessional Relations

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Interventions

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Electronic referral system

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Any referral initiated by a PCP at the study sites for a patient to go to a specialist for the first time

Exclusion Criteria

* Referrals for repeat specialist visits or referrals not initiated by a PCP

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Principal Investigators

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Tejal K Gandhi, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Locations

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Brigham and Women's

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Other Identifiers

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20010373

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2004-P-000710