GPs don’t always implement recommendations from tertiary care

Anyone who has worked in a hospital will recall many instances where GPs have (justifiably) complained about the quality of information transfer to primary care after discharge from hospital. Recent research has indicated that the issues are probably bi-directional. Using retrospective records review of 300 patients aged ≥75 years, drawn from 10 GP practices in three areas of England, investigators examined situations whereby recommendations for actions following a tertiary care episodes were not implemented. Information were also collected about time taken to process discharge communications.The study discovered failures in processing actions requested in 46% of discharge summaries, and requested medication changes were not made in 17% of cases. Other issues includes tests that were not completed (26%)and requested follow-ups not arranged (17%). The harm rate associated with these failures was 8%, but was adjudged to be of moderate impact in most cases. View the original study, published in the British Journal of General Practice, here.