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Connecting hospital and community care: the acceptability of a regional data linkage scheme

Matthew Massy-Westropp, Lynne C Giles, Deborah Law, Paddy A Phillips and Maria Crotty
Aust Health Rev 2005; 29 (1):12-16
Abstract

Lack of information on an individual’s premorbid needs and services in place can impede the transition from community to acute care. We report on a trial of an electronic data linking system between Flinders Medical Centre and Metropolitan Domiciliary Care. A sample of 82 medical, nursing and allied-health staff across the organisations completed questionnaires concerning their level of satisfaction with the trialled system. Results supported the effectiveness of an electronic data linking system across the hospital–community interface. This system was effective in reducing labour costs, increasing organisational communication and devising appropriate discharge plans. Community staff indicated they were better informed about their client’s medical and disability status and were able to play an active role in their client’s treatment. This study provides more support to the implementation of a patient electronic data linking system focussed on older patients, with wider benefits including the reduction of unnecessarily long admission times and decreased demand on hospital beds.

Matthew Massy-Westropp, BAppSc(OT), Project Manager

Lynne C Giles, BSc(Hons), MPH, AStat, Clinical Epidemiologist

Maria Crotty, BMed, PhD, FAFRM (RACP), Professor and Head of Department

Rehabilitation and Aged Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.

Deborah Law, MPol Admin, Grad Bus (Hlth), Dip Physio (UK), Director

Allied Health and Community Health Services, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA.

Paddy A Phillips, MB BS, DPhil, FRACP, Professor and Head

Faculty of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA.

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