Liaison neurologists facilitate accurate neurological diagnosis and management, resulting in substantial savings in the cost of inpatient care.
BACKGROUND
Despite understaffing of neurology services in Ireland, the demand for liaison neurologist input into the care of hospital inpatients is increasing. This aspect of the workload of the neurologist is often under recognised.


OBJECTIVE
We prospectively recorded data on referral and service delivery patterns to a liaison neurology service, the neurological conditions encountered, and the impact of neurology input on patient care.


RESULTS
Over a 13-month period, 669 consults were audited. Of these, 79% of patients were seen within 48 h and 86% of patients were assessed by a consultant neurologist before discharge. Management was changed in 69% cases, and discharge from hospital expedited in 50%. If adequate resources for neurological assessment had been available, 28% could have been seen as outpatients, with projected savings of 857 bed days.


CONCLUSIONS
Investment in neurology services would facilitate early accurate diagnosis, efficient patient and bed management, with substantial savings.
Costelloe
L
L
Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.
O'Rourke
D
D
Monaghan
T S
TS
McCarthy
A J
AJ
McCormack
R
R
Kinsella
J A
JA
Smith
A
A
Murphy
R P
RP
McCabe
D J H
DJ
D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007902:Length of Stay; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009462:Neurology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce
Seizure. 2005 Jan;14(1):58-61
15642502
Int J Cardiol. 2009 Sep 11;137(1):42-6
18687487
Ir Med J. 2005 May;98(5):134-7
16010778
Neurol Clin. 2006 May;24(2):385-403
16684639
Br J Clin Pract. 1992 Winter;46(4):243-8
1290732
Eur J Neurol. 2010 Apr;17(4):e28-32
20050903
Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2009 Apr;21(3):226-33
19167200
Rev Neurol. 2004 Jul 16-31;39(2):120-4
15264160