Facsimile communication between emergency departments and GPs, and patient data confidentiality.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess general practitioners' perceptions of the effectiveness of facsimile notification of their patients being admitted from the emergency department (ED), and its adequacy in terms of patient confidentiality. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey, before and after the initiation of facsimile notification. SETTING: A provincial community of approximately 120,000 residents in Victoria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in GPs' ratings of communication with the ED; acceptability of facsimile notification; and concerns about patient confidentiality. RESULTS: 77 of 85 GPs participated; only 44 (57.1%) returned both questionnaires. ED-GP communication ratings of "adequate" or better increased from 48% to 100% (P < 0.05). The proportion of GPs who were notified of all admissions increased from 0 to 41% (P < 0.05). The proportion of GPs who preferred facsimile for notification increased from 39% to 68% (P < 0.05). Most GPs found the initiative acceptable and reservations about confidentiality decreased from 36% to 16% (P < 0.05). 38 of the 887 patients admitted from the ED (4.3%) refused facsimile notification. CONCLUSIONS: Facsimile improves ED-GP communications and may, in turn, improve the quality and continuity of patient care. Informed consent should be obtained from all patients.