November 2018

Ideas to Increase Primary Care Physician (PCP) and Hospitalist Communication for HMO Members

A hospitalist is a patient’s doctor during an inpatient hospital admission and therefore, communication between hospitalists and PCPs is key to help your patients and our members receive quality medical care. Hospitalists need to know a patient’s detailed medical history and PCPs need to have detailed hospitalization documentation regarding patient medical care. The following are some ways that communication may be increased:

• Electronic Medical Record (EMR) – The EMR is a great communication tool, especially if the EMR provides access to records outside the hospital or if the patient received care within the same system. If this is the case, both the hospitalist and the PCP may be able to access all the notes, tests, procedures, results, medications, etc. from the other.
• Provider Finder^® – An updated Provider Finder profile may be key to communication if a member is unable to share who their PCP is or the contact information. An updated Provider Finder profile may help hospitalists send information to PCPs. If you need to change existing demographic information, complete the Demographic Change Form on the Provider website.
• Timeliness – When a patient follows up with their PCP after being discharged, it is important that the PCP has the hospitalist’s notes to continue the course of treatment for their patient.
• Standardized information – Based on an August 2017 HMO PCP survey, which was sent to 77 participating Medical Groups/Independent Physician Associations (IPAs), providers expressed the need for standardized information from hospitalists to ensure they have the items they need to continue the best course of action for their patient. One idea is to develop a form or template in the EMR that may include key information such as, diagnosis, reconciled medications, results, follow up needs and pending results. If the form or template cannot be built in the EMR, the information on the form or template can be shared by phone, email or fax.

The above material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own best medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the best course of treatment