Coordinating medical care.

摘要

This month's journal carries two editorials on continuity of care from the onset of symptoms in the community right through to the tertiary specialised units for treatment of the most complex problems. Each transfer requires communication of information and perhaps with the London Olympics in mind this is often portrayed using a sporting analogy invoking terms such as 'passing the baton' - a skill achieved at speed by highly trained professionals with a well-defined single item for transfer.1 In the medical setting what may start as a simple data set of symptoms often rapidly expands to include other clinical problems -abnormal findings on examination, social and personal issues and the results from a wide range of investigations. This complex 'baton' of information has to be passed on at every medical or nursing shift change or transfer to a different ward or team. Within the context of 60 or even 80 acute medical admissions a day perhaps a never-ending marathon would be a more appropriate term for this process.