Retaining dermatology patients in primary care through dialogue with secondary care providers: A service evaluation.

Autor: Brainard J; Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.brainard@uea.ac.uk., Crawford A; North Norfolk Primary Care, 4 Alkmaar Way, Norwich NR6 6BF, United Kingdom., Wright B; North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Road, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS10 5NB, United Kingdom., Lim M; Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DL, United Kingdom., Everden P; Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom; North Norfolk Primary Care, 4 Alkmaar Way, Norwich NR6 6BF, United Kingdom.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie [Ann Dermatol Venereol] 2024 Jun; Vol. 151 (2), pp. 103248. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 20.
DOI: 10.1016/j.annder.2024.103248
Abstrakt: Background: There are long patient waiting lists for specialist care. A dermatology dialogue service between primary and secondary care (DDPS) was developed in eastern England. Primary care referrers uploaded patient images of skin conditions for review by and dialogue with consultant dermatologists in an attempt to retain patients in primary care rather than refer them to secondary care.
Methods: Evaluation of service performance against specific targets, including reduction in secondary care waiting list growth over the period April 2021-March 2022 inclusive. Service activity was summarized in terms of speed of resolution, case numbers, and dispositions. Clinician and patient satisfaction were assessed using structured questionnaires. Actual numbers of new referrals were compared to projections based on historical data. Waiting list growth was compared to other specialties and other commissioning areas. Waiting times to initial treatment were monitored.
Results: Over 3300 patients were enrolled and > 90% of dialogues were resolved within 36 hours. Clinician and patient satisfaction were high. Frequently asked questions and conditions were highlighted by dermatologists to design and deliver an educational event for primary care clinicians that was well received. Waiting list growth for dermatology patients in the commissioning area was smaller than for other major specialties, and generally smaller than growth for dermatology waiting lists commissioned by other NHS commissioners. There was no negative impact on the urgent priority (cancer pathway) waiting list.
Conclusion: The DDPS was satisfactory for clinicians and patients and coincided with lower growth in dermatology waiting lists than might otherwise have been expected.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest BW is both an NHS consultant dermatologist and a reporting consultant dermatologist with Xyla Elective Care which is an outsourcing company that was contracted to provide clinical support and collect patient/clinician satisfaction with the DDPS service. No other author has an interest to declare.
(Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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