Real-life implementation and evaluation of the e-referral system SIPILINK

Aimé Nun; Anne-Isabelle Tropeano; Edouard Flamarion; Arnaud Roumy; Henri Azais; Léa Dehghani Kelishadi; Edouard Auclin; Anita Burgun; Sandrine Katsahian; Brigitte Ranque; SIPILINK AP-HP group; Marie-Hélène Metzger; Rosy Tsopra

doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105605

Real-life implementation and evaluation of the e-referral system SIPILINK

Int J Med Inform. 2024 Sep 4:105605. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105605. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, F-75006 Paris, France; Inria, HeKA, PariSanté Campus Paris, France; Department of Medical Informatics, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: aime.nun14@gmail.com.
² Department of Medical Informatics, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France.
³ AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France.
⁴ Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, F-75006 Paris, France; Inria, HeKA, PariSanté Campus Paris, France; Department of Medical Informatics, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France.
⁵ Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, F-75006 Paris, France; Inria, HeKA, PariSanté Campus Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France.
⁶ University of Paris-Saclay, 94807 Villejuif, France; UVSQ, 94807 Villejuif, France; INSERM, CESP, 94807 Villejuif, France; Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Antoine-Béclère Hospital, 92140 Clamart, France.
⁷ Université Paris Cité, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, F-75006 Paris, France; Inria, HeKA, PariSanté Campus Paris, France; Department of Medical Informatics, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, Hôpital Necker F-75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: rosy.tsopra@aphp.fr.

PMID: 39277440
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105605

Abstract

Introduction: General Practitioners (GPs) play a key role of gatekeeper, as they coordinate patients' care. However, most of them reported having difficulty to refer patients to hospital, especially in semi-urgent context. To facilitate the referral of semi-urgent patients, we implemented an e-referral platform, named SIPILINK, within 4 wards from a large public French hospital (internal medicine, diabetology, gynaecological surgery and oncology wards). Here, we aimed to evaluate the SIPILINK e-referral platform after 2 years of implementation.

Methods: The evaluation included a multidimensional assessment based on the RE-AIM framework with the analysis of implementation, requests, health professionals' satisfaction, and estimated hospital payment.

Results: Over 2 years of implementation, GPs sent 113 requests to hospital. Hospital respected the time of response requested by GPs in 93 % of cases and proposed a consultation or hospitalization in respectively 40.7 % and 10.6 % of cases. 100 % of GPs and 78 % of Hospital Practitioners (HPs) were satisfied with the quality of exchanges. 77 % of HPs and 100 % of Care Pathway Managers (CPMs) found that patient care pathways were improved. Nearly all practitioners would recommend this platform for patient referrals.

Discussion: SIPILINK shows promise in streamlining the referral process, enhancing communication, and improving patient care pathways. Further studies including the impact on the quality of care, are needed to assess its effectiveness and sustainability in healthcare settings.