Entrusting patients with their own plain radiographs increases their availability in fracture clinic.
Missing radiographs are a common cause of frustration in many fracture clinics. This can lead to unjustified delays and unnecessary radiation exposure. Patients were entrusted with their own radiographs and asked to bring them back to subsequent clinic consultations. We audited a 14-day-period and compared it with a similar period before implementation of this new protocol. The results showed a significant reduction in the number of missing radiographs by entrusting them with patients.
Lee
R S
RS
Hillingdon Hospital, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3NN, UK. leerobert9@hotmail.com
Langstaff
R J
RJ
D004739:England; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011859:Radiography; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*