Background. The accelerated development in diagnosis and therapy of vascular diseases makes closer collaboration of the treating specialities necessary. This is being increasingly realized in multidisciplinary vascular centres. In addition, multidisciplinary cooperation between referring family doctors and specialists and the hospitals is demanded (integrated care). The goal of this survey is to evaluate the referring doctors' experience of multidisciplinary vascular centres and the expectations of integrated health care. Methods. In December 2004 a questionnaire with 15 questions was mailed to 595 practitioners who had referred patients to the multidisciplinary vascular centre at the Munich Technical University's Klinikum Rechts der Isar. Each practitioner's speciality and experience of collaboration with the vascular centre, and also each one's expectations of the integrated health care were determined. The data were evaluated in a descriptive manner. Results. Of the 595 referring practitioners, 132 (22.2%) returned the questionnaire, 50.4% of these being general practitioners and 40.8%, specialists in internal medicine. The majority of the referring practitioners (78.4%) believe there is a need for a multidisciplinary vascular centre: vascular surgery is considered an essential element by 97.6%, angiology by 94.4% and interventional radiology by 80.8%. The vascular centre is seen as a partner by 81.6% of respondents; 64.6% confirm that patients get better treatment, and 85.2% report a better level of patient satisfaction when the vascular centre is involved. Most respondents (68%) prefer to refer their patients to a 'vascular allrounder'. All deny any fear that financial loss would result from referring their patients to a vascular centre. In connection with integrated healthcare, 80% expect faster and better treatment of patients regarding the integrated health care, 66.4% expect better communications and 49.5%, common guidelines. Conclusion. The concept of the multidisciplinary vascular centre is well accepted by referring practitioners. The expectations they have of integrated healthcare include faster and better treatment of the patients.
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Background. The accelerated development in diagnosis and therapy of vascular diseases makes closer collaboration of the treating specialities necessary. This is being increasingly realized in multidisciplinary vascular centres. In addition, multidisciplinary cooperation between referring family doctors and specialists and the hospitals is demanded (integrated care). The goal of this survey is to evaluate the referring doctors' experience of multidisciplinary vascular centres and the expectations...
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