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New toolkit guides primary care referrals for common gastrointestinal conditions

A new toolkit has been created to enable more effective, patient-centered communication and referrals between primary care physicians and gastroenterologists.

Coordinated by the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Physicians, the High Value Care Coordination Toolkit covers GERD, chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, hepatitis C virus and abnormal liver function tests.

“The data that accompanies patients for referrals can expedite the process and reduce inappropriate referrals, duplicative testing or delays in care, which will improve patient care,” Joel V. BriLl, MD, AGAF, the AGA representative to the High Value Care Coordination Workgroup.

The toolkit includes the following components:

• checklist for what to include in a generic referral to a subspecialist
• checklist for what to include in a subspecialist’s response to a referral
• relevant datasets in addition to those found on a generic referral request, covering specific common conditions, to help ensure effective and high-value engagement
• model care coordination agreement templates for use between primary care and subspecialty practices, and between primary care and hospital care team
• outline or recommendations to physicians on preparing a patient for referral with a patient- and family-centered focus

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