Maximizing use of a surgical clinic for referrals of patients having back problems.
OBJECTIVE
To determine ways to improve the delivery of service in a surgical clinic, based on the outcome of surgical consultations for back pain.


METHODS
A prospective outcome study.


METHODS
A university teaching hospital providing secondary and tertiary care.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-two consecutive patients who presented to surgical clinics for assessment of a back problem between Apr. 14 and May 30, 1996.


METHODS
Surgeons determined the diagnosis and visit outcome; data were tabulated objectively by a third-party researcher.


METHODS
Waiting time for consultation, presence of referral letter, third-party interests, diagnosis and visit outcome.


RESULTS
Twenty-five percent of patients had chronic pain not amenable to surgery, 19% of patients were surgical candidates and were offered an operation, 13% were symptomatically improved to the point of not wanting an operation, 11% wanted a second opinion only, 10% had mechanical back pain appropriate for referral to physiotherapy, 9% had not undergone an adequate trial of nonoperative treatment when seen in the clinic and were given follow-up appointments, 5% were "no shows," 3.5% were seen for a medicolegal assessment, 3.5% wanted confirmation from a specialist that they did not need surgery and 1% had symptoms due to a vascular rather than a spinal cause and were referred to a vascular surgeon.


CONCLUSIONS
Delivery of service could be improved by more rigorous screening to reassign appointment times of patients who have not had an adequate trial of nonoperative treatment, are improved or do not intend to keep their appointment.
Mayman
D
D
Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont.
Yen
D
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D002170:Canada; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014850:Waiting Lists