ROLE OF PRIMARY CARE IN COORDINATING SPECIALIST CARE

Abstract

It is broadly acknowledged that the multidisciplinary and multi-professional coordination of healthcare services is of utmost importance, particularly for patients with complex chronic conditions (Tomaschek et al., 2022). This need has initiated a range of studies and interventions to better coordinate general practitioner (GP) and specialist services. The coordination of GP and specialist care along the continuum of care is complex and includes ambulatory, inpatient and rehabilitative care. Furthermore, this collaboration needs to be considered within the context of chronic care involving the renewable continuity of care and collaboration of the patient with the different providers.

Referring patients to specialists enables treatments that GPs are not able to deliver, and a study of 15 countries found a strong association between the involvement of GPs in a patient’s care and a lower likelihood of specialist service utilization (Dawda et al., 2015). However, in cases with serious illness, including chronic conditions, specialist involvement can increase the effectiveness of treatment outcomes. Numerous health systems have therefore put in place different interventions to promote, facilitate and better structure this collaboration among providers for mutually defined patients. By improving the collaboration between GPs and specialists, healthcare structures emphasise a more efficient and equitable use of resources, and therefore improve the care of a specific population of patients. On this background, the article aims at identifying existing arrangements in the Swiss context that have the potential to be improved.