PMID: 22584366May 16, 2012Paper

Referral Writer: preliminary evidence for the value of comprehensive referral letters

Quality in Primary Care
Moyez Jiwa, Satvinder Dhaliwal

Abstract

We aimed to explore if increasing the amount of relevant information relayed in referral letters between general practitioners (GPs) or family physicians and hospital specialists helps in the scheduling of appointments for patients. We report a before and after study comparing outcomes before and after the introduction of software to assist referral writing. The participants were GPs and hospital specialists based in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. The amount of relevant information in referral letters from GPs was assessed with reference to a published schedule three months before and four months after deploying interactive computerised Referral Writer software (RW). The longer period after deploying the RW was to allow GPs time to become familiar with the RW. The letters were scored by a researcher for the amount of relevant information included and then independently assessed by two specialists in each of six specialties to determine if they were able to decide which patients needed to be seen soonest and what was the most likely outcome of the specialist consultation. The actual diagnosis for each case was recorded later to assess if there was an association between the amount of relevant information relayed and the ...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.