[Cooperation between hospital teams and community-based healthcare professionals]

Abstract

Objective: To identify and classify hospital-community cooperation activities between Greater Paris University Hospitals (GPUH) and community health professionals.

Methods: A declarative survey was conducted in GPUH clinical departments, which were asked to describe their activities with community health professionals, the type of community professionals involved (e.g. general practitioners, nurses) and a full description of the activity. Activities were classified by the three authors with consistency checks.

Results: 261 activities were reported by 138 departments (39 medical specialties). Paediatrics, psychiatry and geriatrics reported the highest number of activities. 37% of activities covered access to hospital care, 25% concerned training of health professionals, 22% concerned continuity of care after hospitalization, 13% shared follow-up and 3% corresponded to public health interventions in the general population. Access to hospital care included facilitating appointments, access to hospital expertise and specific organizations. Continuity of care included either information transmission or patient referral. Follow-up was shared over specific patients or over a predefined patient population. Training was organized by hospital professionals, community health professionals or as a collaborative initiative.

Conclusion: The proposed classification can be used for research studies, or to define a strategy for hospitals initiating collaborations with community health professionals. It describes the concept of "hospital-community medical relations" from a pragmatic health professional point of view.