05/16/2023
Electronic health record (EHR) systems are capable of facilitating the timely distribution of integrated and organized patient health information. These can reduce the fragmentation that can surround the continuum of care. Reducing fragmented care leads to better continuity and coordination of care. Leveraging this tool in every episode of care allows for:
- notification to all authorized providers when a patient has been in the hospital or seen in the ED
- every provider involved in a patient’s care to have the same up-to-date information including medications, allergies, and other medical conditions
- timely follow up with the patient
Technology has advanced to give us better availability and accuracy of patient information. This improved information sharing is especially important for patients:
- getting emergency treatment
- seeing multiple providers
- transitioning between care settings
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) annually surveys a sample of our providers about their satisfaction. The BCBSTX Provider Satisfaction Survey includes questions about PCPs’ satisfaction with inpatient hospital discharge summaries and emergency department visit summaries. In 2022, there was a nice improvement in the overall satisfaction with continuity of care and receiving hospital discharge summaries, although we did not meet our goal of 85%. There was a 2 percentage point decrease in adequate information about medications at discharge, but it still met our goal. There were no changes in the timeliness of receipt of summaries, and this area still needs some improvement. The results demonstrate opportunities for improvement, most importantly making sure the PCP receives an inpatient discharge summary and an ED visit summary.
BCBSTX Provider Satisfaction Survey Results
Survey Questions |
Goal 85% |
2021 |
2022 |
Overall satisfaction with continuity of care |
|
73% |
79% |
When your patients are seen by the following, are you sent summary information following the discharge or visit? Inpatient Setting Emergency Dept. |
|
64% 59% |
69% 59% |
When you receive the summary information, does it reach your office in a timely manner (within 10 business days)? Inpatient Setting Emergency Dept. |
|
78% 71% |
78% 71% |
When you receive hospital discharge information, does it contain adequate information about medications at discharge? |
|
88% |
86% |
If every episode of care is captured electronically and every effort is made to identify all providers involved in the care of a patient, authorized information sharing can be critical in avoiding miscommunication or delays in care. EHRs are an invaluable resource that may improve patient outcomes by providing better quality of care and better continuity and coordination of care between care settings and providers.