title: Safety and efficiency of non-contact first specialist assessment in neurology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate safety and efficiency of non-contact first specialist assessments (NCFSA) in neurology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of a cohort of 1107 patients referred to a neurology clinic, a total of 222 (20%) was triaged into NCFSA and investigated with a 6 months observational study of safety and efficiency indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were three (1.35%) adverse events (delay in diagnosis) recorded, one of which with actual detriment to the patient. After 6 months the rate of re-referrals was 11.26%, and inpatient admission rate 5.86%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a potential for NCFSAs to optimise the use of available resources in a neurology outpatient setting with low risk of delay in diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Palmerston North Hospital, Palmerston North, New Zealand. pietro.cariga@midcentraldhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cariga
authors.forename: William H C
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Annemarei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranta
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009462:Neurology / Q000379:methods*; D009520:New Zealand; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014218:Triage / Q000592:standards*