Transfer of care of postsurgical patients from hospital to the community setting: cross-sectional survey of primary care physicians

• We examined transfer of care of postsurgical patients by surveying primary care physicians.
• There is a discrepancy between what family physicians want in a transfer tool and what is included.
• Transfer of care can be improved with a transfer tool that includes identified areas of improvement.

BackgroundPostsurgical management is often delegated to family physicians once patients are discharged from hospital, but management of such patients may not be effectively communicated. We examined transfer of care of postsurgical patients by surveying family physicians.MethodsAn electronic, self-administered survey was administered from November 2012 to March 2014 to family physicians affiliated with 4 academic and community hospitals in Toronto, Canada.ResultsA total of 109 of 589 (19% response rate) family physicians completed the survey. The majority (76%) did not believe that the current transfer of care process was adequate. Uncertainty regarding management resulted in one or more adverse patient events for over half of respondents (62%).ConclusionsA discrepancy exists between what family physicians desire to have included in transfer tools and the frequency with which these variables are included. Family physicians believe that the current process of transfer of care for postsurgical patients is inadequate and may contribute to adverse events.