A STANDARDIZED MESSAGE FOR SUPPORTING SHARED CARE

As health care becomes more complex, interest in the benefits of coord ination of care has increased. Especially patients that are being trea ted jointly by more than one physician (shared care), are vulnerable t o adverse effects resulting from inadequate coordination and communica tion. We describe a study in which care providers support shared care by using computer-based patient records for data storage, and structur ed electronic data interchange as a means of communication. In this st udy, we are aiming at the development and implementation of protocols for shared care.