P H Graham1. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital, NSW.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate how much information a specialist oncologist receives at the time of initial assessment of referred patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective audit of 103 new patients referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital--based on referral letters; availability of blood, radiology and histopathology investigations; and the use of interpreters. RESULTS: Eighty of 103 patients had a referral letter; a positive correlation was found between the provision of a letter and the availability of the result of a critical investigation. Results were not available at the time of assessment for a third of the investigations. Interpreter use was inadequate. CONCLUSION: The communication of information to specialists can be improved, and will help optimise the delivery of specialist services.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate how much information a specialist oncologist receives at the time of initial assessment of referred patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective audit of 103 new patients referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology, Westmead Hospital--based on referral letters; availability of blood, radiology and histopathology investigations; and the use of interpreters. RESULTS: Eighty of 103 patients had a referral letter; a positive correlation was found between the provision of a letter and the availability of the result of a critical investigation. Results were not available at the time of assessment for a third of the investigations. Interpreter use was inadequate. CONCLUSION: The communication of information to specialists can be improved, and will help optimise the delivery of specialist services.
Authors: Hardeep Singh; Adol Esquivel; Dean F Sittig; Daniel Murphy; Himabindu Kadiyala; Rachel Schiesser; Donna Espadas; Laura A Petersen Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2010-09-17 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Michael L Barnett; Ateev Mehrotra; Joseph P Frolkis; Melissa Spinks; Casey Steiger; Brandon Hehir; Jeffrey O Greenberg; Hardeep Singh Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 5.128