Analysis of Telephone Communication Between Hospice Nurses and a Nurse Practitioner Group

Abstract

Telephone communication between health care providers is essential for ensuring continuity of care for hospice patients in the home care setting. Research examined 114 telephone calls from hospice nurses to a nurse practitioner (NP) group. Hospice nurses called about clinical problems (53.1%); medication and supply needs (29.4%); admission, discharge, and placement issues (14.7%); and other issues (2.8%). NPs documented giving clinical and nonclinical information and instructions; ordering medications, treatments, supplies, equipment, and changes in home services; and consulting and communicating with others at the medical center. Findings begin to describe an important aspect of both hospice nurse and nurse practitioner practice and point to the need for both groups to be aware of the clinical and workload implications of their telephone practices.