title: A UK hospital based multidisciplinary balance clinic run by allied health professionals: first year results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe our experience of a new multidisciplinary balance clinic for the management of patients with vestibular disorders, run as a pilot project for 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of the outcomes of 194 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were first evaluated at the balance assessment clinic. Subsequently, each case was discussed at the multidisciplinary balance clinic weekly review meeting, and management decisions made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean waiting time for the balance assessment clinic was 12 weeks (standard deviation six weeks). In total, 74 per cent of patients underwent rehabilitation, 26 per cent were seen in the balance specialist clinic, 15 per cent underwent additional testing, 6 per cent were followed up in adult otology clinics and one patient was listed for surgery. The waiting time for vestibular rehabilitation was reduced from 21 to 15 weeks. Patient satisfaction with the service was encouraging, and no adverse outcomes were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This multidisciplinary balance clinic, run by allied health professionals, represents an alternative model for the management of patients with balance disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Premachandra
authors.forename: G A J
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D013997:Time Factors; D014218:Triage; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult