Influence on patient management of general practitioner direct access to radiological services.
We have looked at the effect of open radiological access on patient management during a 2-year prospective study in the radiology department of a teaching hospital and two general practices. Five hundred and thirty consecutive requests for radiological examination were studied. Chest radiographs (29.8%) and barium meals (17.4%) were the investigations most commonly requested. At the time of referral general practitioners indicated that if open radiological access had not been available, 78% of the patients would have been referred to specialist clinics. They also indicated that with a normal initial radiological examination only 12% would need referral to a specialist department. Open access appears to save outpatient consultations.
Barton
E
E
Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.
Gallagher
S
S
Flower
C D
CD
Hanka
R
R
King
R H
RH
Sherwood
T
T
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D004739:England; D005194:Family Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation