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Table 2 Residents’a attitudes toward and practices surrounding outpatient referrals

From: Internal medicine residents identify gaps in medical education on outpatient referrals

 

Never (%)

Rarely (%)

Sometimes (%)

Usually (%)

Always (%)

N

It is important to provide the clinical reason for a referral.

0 (0)

0 (0)

4 (3)

17 (14)

100 (83)

121

It is important to provide the pertinent medical history when making a referral.

0 (0)

1 (1)

13 (11)

40 (33)

68 (56)

122

I provide the clinical reason when I make a referral.

0 (0)

3 (2)

6 (5)

43 (35)

70 (57)

122

I provide the pertinent medical history when I make a referral.

0 (0)

4 (3)

25 (20)

59 (48)

34 (28)

122

When I make a referral, I provide a sufficient amount of clinical information for the consulting provider.

0 (0)

7 (6)

42 (34)

59 (48)

14 (11)

122

To make a referral, I use the electronic health record’s referral order.

0 (0)

0 (0)

0 (0)

11 (9)

110 (91)

121

In addition to using the electronic health record’s referral order, I e-mail, message, or call the consulting physician to explain the case.

59 (48)

49 (40)

12 (10)

1 (1)

1 (1)

122

 

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

 

My residency provides sufficient training in knowing when to refer a patient.

0 (0)

10 (8)

29 (24)

72 (59)

11 (9)

122

My residency provides sufficient training in what information to provide the consulting physician at the time of the referral.

1 (1)

15 (12)

41 (34)

54 (45)

10 (8)

121

The referral process in the ambulatory setting works well for providing patients with high quality clinical care.

7 (6)

24 (20)

40 (33)

43 (36)

7 (6)

121

I have observed situations in which important clinical information was missing at the time that a consulting physician evaluated a patient.

4 (3)

18 (15)

47 (39)

43 (35)

10 (8)

122

I have observed situations in which missing information at the time of a consult led to repeat testing or inappropriate testing.

8 (7)

30 (25)

39 (32)

35 (29)

10 (8)

122

I have observed situations in which missing information at the time of a consult resulted in harm for the patient (including but not limited to medication errors, misdiagnosis, unnecessary testing, and other types of harm).

33 (27)

45 (37)

35 (29)

8 (7)

1 (1)

122

  1. aWe refer collectively to all house staff (interns and residents) as residents