Patient and Physician Narratives on Collaborative Care Between Emergency and Family Medicine Services: A Narrative Review

Interprofessional collaboration between emergency medicine (EM) and family medicine (FM) is essential to ensure continuity, quality, and safety of patient care. While much has been written about system-level integration, fewer studies have focused on the lived experiences and narratives of patients and physicians navigating care transitions between these services. This narrative review synthesizes qualitative and mixed-method studies that explore the perspectives of both physicians and patients on collaborative care between EM and FM. A thematic analysis of selected literature reveals recurring themes of communication challenges, role ambiguity, care fragmentation, and emotional burden. While some narratives highlight positive, coordinated experiences, others describe systemic barriers that compromise patient outcomes and satisfaction. Gaps in the literature include limited patient voices and a lack of longitudinal perspectives. This review underscores the need for more inclusive, story-driven research to inform collaborative practice models that are both clinically effective and experientially meaningful.