The investigators found that 69% of primary-care physicians reported passing on a history and reason for a consultation to the consulting specialist. Only 35% of specialists reported always or mostly receiving that information.
Not surprisingly, 81% of specialists said that of course, they always or usually send consult results back to the referring primary-care doctor, but only 62% of the primary doctors reported receiving it.
Ideally, all doctors should directly discuss cases and referrals. Perhaps with increased connectivity of electronic medical records, at least physicians can communicate and review consults and reports in a digital medium.
This beats faxes and consultation letters by snail mail.
On a different note, I am off to Honduras at the crack of dawn tomorrow, for a 4 day medical relief planning trip. Where I am headed, neither electricity nor electronic medical records exist.
Stay tuned....
