General surgical pre-admission clinic.
Ninety-nine patients from a non-urgent general surgical waiting list were randomly selected for either direct admission to a hospital bed or review at a preadmission clinic. A considerable reduction in subsequent bed occupancy was shown in the latter group. The findings suggest that more detailed review of patients in the outpatient department would result in the more efficient use of hospital facilities.
D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014852:Wales