Affiliation
Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Mid Western Regional Hospital,, Dooradoyle, Limerick. johncooke_cork@yahoo.comIssue Date
2012-01-31T16:48:05ZMeSH
Cost-Benefit AnalysisHealth Personnel/*economics/*psychology/statistics & numerical data
Humans
Ireland
Job Satisfaction
Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data
Nurses/economics/psychology/statistics & numerical data
*Physician's Practice Patterns
Physicians/economics/psychology
Physicians, Family/economics/psychology/statistics & numerical data
Quality of Health Care
Questionnaires
Referral and Consultation/*economics/*statistics & numerical data
Time Factors
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Ir Med J. 2009 Jul-Aug;102(7):209-12.Journal
Irish medical journalPubMed ID
19772000Abstract
Our aim was to assess the acceptability and cost-efficiency of shared consultancy posts. Two consultant physicians worked alternate fortnights for a period of twelve months. Questionnaires were distributed to general practitioners, nurses, consultants and junior doctors affected by the arrangement. Patients or their next of kin were contacted by telephone. 1/17 of consultants described the experience as negative. 14/19 junior doctors reported a positive experience. 11 felt that training had been improved while 2 felt that it had been adversely affected. 17/17 GPs were satisfied with the arrangement. 1/86 nurses surveyed reported a negative experience. 1/48 patients were unhappy with the arrangement. An extra 2.2 (p<0.001) patients were seen per clinic. Length of stay was shortened by 2.49 days (p<0.001). A saving of 69,212 was made due to decreased locum requirements. We present data suggesting structured shared consultancy posts can be broadly acceptable and cost efficient in Ireland.Language
engISSN
0332-3102 (Print)0332-3102 (Linking)