title: How we do it: cost-benefit analysis of implementing a telephone review system in an ENT outpatient setting.
abstract: There is an increasing pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) hospital consultants to reduce the waiting times. We have used an optional telephone review for a certain number of our outpatients so as to reduce the need for their in-person attendance. The result of our study, which was conducted in two phases, showed that almost half of the telephone follow-up patients (48%) were discharged over the phone. There was a direct saving of approximately 30 pounds per patient having a telephone follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK. sssanari@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arullendran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008485:Medical Audit; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014850:Waiting Lists