Coordinating care between EDPs and PCPs — Make sure the right hand knows what the left hand is doing

Description

Abstract: While many proposed delivery system reforms encourage care coordination among primary care physicians (PCPs), specialty physicians and hospitals, little attention has been paid to the continuity of care for patients treated in hospital emergency departments (EDs). This article notes that there are significant barriers to such coordination — but also a number of benefits. A sidebar offers four specific strategies to help improve EDP-PCP coordination.