A Strategy to Overcome the Radiology Lottery in the Staging of Head and Neck Cancer: An Aid to Attaining the 30-Day Rule
| Autor: | Anne Davis, Marianne Elloy, Sara Jarvis |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2009 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Referral Waiting Lists Multidisciplinary team Health Services Accessibility Otolaryngology medicine Humans Prospective Studies Prospective cohort study Head and neck Referral and Consultation Neoplasm Staging Patient Care Team Medical Audit business.industry Head and neck cancer Outcome measures General Medicine medicine.disease Triage Magnetic Resonance Imaging Head and Neck Neoplasms Radiological weapon Surgery Radiology business Tomography X-Ray Computed |
| Popis: | INTRODUCTION Rapid access to radiological services is essential, if the British Association of Otolaryngologists – Head and Neck Surgeons Minimum Temporal Standards are to be met in the management of head and neck cancer patients. This study assesses a new initiative whereby the multidisciplinary team prioritises allocated imaging appointments rather than using the traditional radiological triage system. PATIENTS AND METHODS This study was a prospective audit of all patients referred over a 3-month period with suspected head and neck cancer. The main outcome measures were: (i) median interval in days from general practitioner (GP) referral to staging scan; and (ii) median interval in days from first clinic appointment to staging scan. RESULTS The new multidisciplinary team booking system led to a statistically significant reduction in the ‘request-to-scan time’ (from 12 days to 5 days). The time from ‘GP to scan’ also improved. CONCLUSIONS This new multidisciplinary team-led booking system, could, in the future, speed up access to radiology services lead and neck cancer patients, allowing earlier definitive treatment. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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