Linked Life Data

2504413

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/2504413

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6694
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-10-11
pubmed:abstractText
There has been much concern about the wide variations in general practitioners' referral rates and the consequent implications for cost and quality of care. This has led to a call to evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of referrals. A collaborative audit of referrals to outpatient clinics was conducted by 127 general practitioners in 33 practices in the Oxford region. Records were kept of 18,754 referrals, which included data on diagnoses and reasons for referral. Overall, 6553 (35.4%) of the referrals were for particular treatments or operations and a further 6475 (34.9%) were for specific investigation or diagnosis. Advice on management was the main reason for referral in 2656 (14.3%) cases, and in 1719 (9.3%) cases the general practitioners wanted the consultants to take over managing their patients. Reassurance of either the general practitioner or the patient was recorded as the main reason in only 762 (4.1%) referrals. There seems to be scope for rationalising the referral process. A programme with three stages for evaluating referrals to outpatient clinics is recommended.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0959-8138
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
29
pubmed:volume
299
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
304-6
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
General practitioners' referrals to specialist outpatient clinics. I. Why general practitioners refer patients to specialist outpatient clinics.
pubmed:affiliation
Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Oxford, Oxford Regional Health Authority.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't