Care coordination and implementation into practice

Communication and care coordination tools

Referrals to a gastroenterologist

Clinical tools: Standardized referral forms

1. Can be used to communicate patient symptoms and treatment updates between primary care clinicians and gastroenterologists
2. Examples of standardized documents:

• Referral Form: Developed by the American Gastroenterological Associationʼs multidisciplinary workgroup, this form (see supplementary figure 2) can be integrated into electronic health records (EHR) for ease of use, aiding in quick transmission of essential information (eg, via “quick text”)

Coordination of care with other clinicians

1. Clinical liaisons
   Primary care clinicians can serve as clinical liaisons, connecting patients to specialists, not only the gastroenterologist, but rheumatologists, mental health clinicians, ophthalmologist, obstetricians/gynecologists, dietitians, clinical pharmacists, and physical therapists, depending on patients’ individual needs
2. Care coordination support
   Utilization of a dedicated care coordinator and/or resources listed in the Operational considerations section of this toolkit can aid primary care clinicians in care coordination