Show simple item record

dc.contributor.authorMurphy, CL
dc.contributor.authorSheane, B
dc.contributor.authorDurcan, L
dc.contributor.authorO’Shea, FD
dc.contributor.authorDoran, M
dc.contributor.authorCunnane, G
dc.date.accessioned2013-10-17T16:18:04Z
dc.date.available2013-10-17T16:18:04Z
dc.date.issued2013-10
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/303573
dc.description.abstractAppropriate allocation of rheumatology clinic appointments depends on the information contained in referral letters. Such letters were analysed for the presence of pertinent information and a scoring system was devised to assess the quality of enclosed data. In a smaller cohort, relevant basic tests were carried out prior to the appointment. 122 referral letters were received over a 1 month period. Symptom duration was documented in (39)32%, while (64)52.5% listed medications. Only (23)17.2% indicated the urgency of the problem. Approximately (31)25% of referrers performed relevant routine investigations. Mean score out of 10 was 5.1 (range 1.5â 9). Of the 40(33%) patients with pre-appointment investigations, the clinic attendance rate and subsequent discharge rate were significantly higher than those without these tests. This study shows that comprehensive referral letters and basic investigations significantly help to prioritize appointments and facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients with rheumatic disease.
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherIrish Medical Journal (IMJ)en_GB
dc.subjectRHEUMATIC DISORDERen_GB
dc.subjectHEALTH SERVICESen_GB
dc.subjectCLINICAL AUDITen_GB
dc.titleBenefits of pre-referral preparation for rheumatology clinicsen_GB
dc.typeArticleen
dc.identifier.journalIrish Medical Journal (IMJ)en_GB
dc.description.fundingNo fundingen
dc.description.provinceLeinsteren
dc.description.peer-reviewpeer-reviewen
refterms.dateFOA2018-08-23T08:48:54Z
html.description.abstractAppropriate allocation of rheumatology clinic appointments depends on the information contained in referral letters. Such letters were analysed for the presence of pertinent information and a scoring system was devised to assess the quality of enclosed data. In a smaller cohort, relevant basic tests were carried out prior to the appointment. 122 referral letters were received over a 1 month period. Symptom duration was documented in (39)32%, while (64)52.5% listed medications. Only (23)17.2% indicated the urgency of the problem. Approximately (31)25% of referrers performed relevant routine investigations. Mean score out of 10 was 5.1 (range 1.5â 9). Of the 40(33%) patients with pre-appointment investigations, the clinic attendance rate and subsequent discharge rate were significantly higher than those without these tests. This study shows that comprehensive referral letters and basic investigations significantly help to prioritize appointments and facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment for patients with rheumatic disease.


Files in this item

Thumbnail
Name:
Article7171.pdf
Size:
11.62Kb
Format:
PDF

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record