How we do it: cost-benefit analysis of implementing a telephone review system in an ENT outpatient setting.
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.
Anari
S
S
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK. sssanari@yahoo.co.uk
Arullendran
P
P
Reilly
J
J
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