Observational studyBMC health services research2021
Direct phone communication to primary care physician to plan discharge from hospital: feasibility and benefits.
Observational study in BMC health services research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Accessing and Administering Anticipatory Medications for Community End-of-Life Symptom Control: A Qualitative Focus Group Study.Journal of clinical nursing · 2026Article
- Response to LTE "Bridging the Gap Between Patient Experience and System-Level Review: A Call for Discipline-Specific Communication in Hospital-to-Home Transitions.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2026Article
- Optimizing Discharge Summaries: A Survey of Inpatient Clinician Perspectives and the Path to Standardization.Journal of general internal medicine · 2026Article
- The complexities of communication at hospital discharge of older patients: a qualitative study of healthcare professionals' views.BMC health services research · 2023Article
- General practice care following acute exacerbations of COPD: A survey of Australian general practitioners.PloS one · 2023Article
- Improving the Timeliness of Discharge Summary Communication: A Quality Improvement Project.Cureus · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe discharge summary is the main vector of communication at the time of hospital discharge, but it is known to be insufficient. Direct phone contact between hospitalist and primary care physician (PCP) at discharge could ensure rapid transmission of information, improve patient safety and promote interprofessional collaboration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and benefit of a phone call from hospitalist to PCP to plan discharge.
methodsThis study was a prospective, single-center, cross-sectional observational study. It took place in an acute medicine unit of a French university hospital. The hospitalist had to contact the PCP by telephone within 72 h prior discharge, making a maximum of 3 call attempts. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients whose primary care physician could be reached by telephone at the time of discharge. The other criteria were the physicians' opinions on the benefits of this contact and its effect on readmission rates.
results275 patients were eligible. 8 hospitalists and 130 PCPs gave their opinion. Calls attempts were made for 71% of eligible patients. Call attempts resulted in successful contact with the PCP 157 times, representing 80% of call attempts and 57% of eligible patients. The average call completion rate was 47%. The telephone contact was perceived by hospitalist as useful and providing security. The PCPs were satisfied and wanted this intervention to become systematic. Telephone contact did not reduce the readmission rate.
conclusionsDespite the implementation of a standardized process, the feasibility of the intervention was modest. The main obstacle was hospitalists lacking time and facing difficulties in reaching the PCPs. However, physicians showed desire to communicate directly by telephone at the time of discharge.
trial registrationFrench C.N.I.L. registration number 2108852. Registration date October 12, 2017.
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