Communication between psychosomatic C-L consultants and general practitioners in a German health care system.

A randomized and prospective study examined the effects of intensive communication between treatment providers on physician behavior and patient care using a representative sample of patients referred to a German psychosomatic consultation-liaison (C-L) service (1998-1999). Sixty-seven patients were grouped (ICD-10) and randomized into intervention (n=33) and control groups (n=34). In the control group (CG), only the inpatient referring physicians were informed of consultation findings, as is standard practice in Germany.

Reporting psychosomatic consultations in the discharge letter: an examination of communication between inpatient and primary care physicians.

The discharge letter is the primary means of communication between the inpatient and the outpatient treatment providers in the German health care system. The inclusion of psychosomatic consultation findings within the discharge letter is a critical step for impacting the psychosocial aspects of patient care following discharge. The present retrospective study measured the extent to which psychosomatic consultations conducted at the University of Heidelberg Medical Hospital were mentioned in the discharge letter during a 2-year index period.