title: Successfully reforming orthopaedic outpatients.
abstract: Since 2005, Barwon Health has successfully reformed its orthopaedic outpatient service to address the following issues: increasing number of referrals, inefficient referral management and triage, long waiting times for non-urgent appointments, high 'Did Not Attend' (DNA) rates and poor utilisation of conservative therapies before referral to surgeon. Numerous strategies have been implemented including: waiting list audits, triage guidelines, physiotherapy-led clinics, a DNA policy, an orthopaedic lead nurse role and a patient-focussed booking system. There has been a 66% reduction in the number of patients waiting for their first appointment; an 87% reduction in the waiting time from referral to first appointment; a 10% reduction in new patient DNAs; and more efficient referral management and communication processes. Patients are now seen in clinically appropriate time frames and offered earlier access to a wider range of conservative treatments.
authors.affiliation: Barwon Health, Geelong Hospital. PO Box 281, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia. petersc@barwonhealth.org.au
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schoch
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adair
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016134:Organizational Policy; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014739:Victoria; D014850:Waiting Lists