ACP toolkit improves care coordination between primary care and specialists

ACP's High Value Care Coordination Toolkit features resources to improve referrals and care coordination between primary care physicians and specialists, eliminate waste and duplicative care, and create more efficiency in care delivery.

The toolkit was developed collaboratively through ACP's Council of Subspecialty Societies (CSS) and patient advocacy groups. CSS acts as a forum for the exchange of ideas between ACP and subspecialty organizations on matters affecting medicine in general and subspecialty societies in particular.

The High Value Care Coordination Toolkit includes 5 components:

• a checklist of information to include in a generic referral to a subspecialist practice,
• a checklist of information to include in a subspecialist's response to a referral request,
• pertinent data sets reflecting specific information in addition to that found on a generic referral request to include in a referral for a number of specific common conditions to help ensure an effective and high-value engagement,
• model care coordination agreement templates between primary care and subspecialty practices, and between a primary care practice and hospital care team, and
• an outline of recommendations to physicians on preparing a patient for a referral in a patient- and family-centered manner.

These resources are part of ACP's High Value Care initiative, which is designed to help doctors and patients understand the benefits, harms, and costs of tests and treatment options for common clinical issues so they can pursue care together that improves health, avoids harms, and eliminates wasteful practices.