title: Preclinic telephone consultations: an observational cohort study.
abstract: Patients referred to secondary care for specialist respiratory review frequently undergo multiple hospital attendances for investigations and consultations. This study evaluated the potential of a preclinic telephone consultation and subsequent coordination of tests and face-to-face consultations to reduce hospital visits. Total hospital attendances were recorded for three cohorts (participants, non-participants and comparators) for 6 months from first specialist contact. Patients completed the medical interview satisfaction scale-21 (MISS-21). The study showed that a preclinic telephone consultation can significantly reduce hospital visits over a fixed period without reducing patient satisfaction. In total, 20.8% of the participant group had three or more hospital attendances compared with 42.9% of the non-participant group (p = 0.001) and 44.7% of the comparator group (p = 0.002). Participants had fewer follow up visits and lower rates of non-attendance/late rearrangement of appointments. This service reduces unnecessary hospital visits, seems to improve patient compliance and may save costs associated with non-attendance and follow up consultations.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College London NHLI, Charing Cross Hospital, London.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Byrne
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Partridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D002497:Centralized Hospital Services / Q000379:methods*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone