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Cardiology Encounters for Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Borderline Cardiovascular Disease Risk. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:1509-1519. [PMID: 37160576 PMCID: PMC10632543 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-023-01627-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (UREGs) with HIV have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with the general population. Referral to a cardiovascular specialist improves CVD risk factor management in high-risk individuals. However, patient and provider factors impacting the likelihood of UREGs with HIV to have an encounter with a cardiologist are unknown. METHODS We evaluated a cohort of UREGs with HIV and borderline CVD risk (10-year risk ≥ 5% by the pooled cohort equations or ≥ 7.5% by Framingham risk score). Participants received HIV-related care from 2014-2020 at four academic medical centers in the United States (U.S.). Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the association of patient and provider characteristics with time to first ambulatory cardiology encounter. RESULTS A total of 2,039 people with HIV (PWH) and borderline CVD risk were identified. The median age was 45 years (IQR: 36-50); 52% were female; and 94% were Black. Of these participants, 283 (14%) had an ambulatory visit with a cardiologist (17% of women vs. 11% of men, p < .001). In fully adjusted models, older age, higher body mass index (BMI), atrial fibrillation, multimorbidity, urban residence, and no recent insurance were associated with a greater likelihood of an encounter with a cardiologist. CONCLUSION In UREGs with HIV and borderline CVD risk, the strongest determinants of a cardiology encounter were diagnosed CVD, insurance type, and urban residence. Future research is needed to determine the extent to which these encounters impact CVD care practices and outcomes in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04025125.
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Perspectives on Referral Pathways for Timely Head and Neck Cancer Care. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2024:2818527. [PMID: 38753343 PMCID: PMC11099838 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2024.0917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Importance Timely diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) because delays are associated with reduced survival rates and increased recurrence risk. Prompt referral to HNC specialists is crucial for the timeliness of care, yet the factors that affect the referral and triage pathway remain relatively unexplored. Therefore, to identify barriers and facilitators of timely care, it is important to understand the complex journey that patients undertake from the onset of HNC symptoms to referral for diagnosis and treatment. Objective To investigate the referral and triage process for patients with HNC and identify barriers to and facilitators of care from the perspectives of patients and health care workers. Design, Participants, and Setting This was a qualitative study using semistructured interviews of patients with HNC and health care workers who care for them. Participants were recruited from June 2022 to July 2023 from HNC clinics at 2 tertiary care academic medical centers in Boston, Massachusetts. Data were analyzed from July 2022 to December 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures Themes identified from the perspectives of both patients and health care workers on factors that hinder or facilitate the HNC referral and triage process. Results In total, 72 participants were interviewed including 42 patients with HNC (median [range] age, 60.5 [19.0-81.0] years; 27 [64%] females) and 30 health care workers (median [range] age, 38.5 [20.0-68.0] years; 23 [77%] females). Using thematic analysis, 4 major themes were identified: the HNC referral and triage pathway is fragmented; primary and dental care are critical for timely referrals; efficient interclinician coordination expedites care; and consistent patient-practitioner engagement alleviates patient fear. Conclusions and Relevance These findings describe the complex HNC referral and triage pathway, emphasizing the critical role of initial symptom recognition, primary and dental care, patient information flow, and interclinician and patient-practitioner communication, all of which facilitate prompt HNC referrals.
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Predictors of Subspecialty Appointment Scheduling and Completion for Patients Referred From a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2024; 63:512-521. [PMID: 37309813 PMCID: PMC10863332 DOI: 10.1177/00099228231179673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Failure to complete subspecialty referrals decreases access to subspecialty care and may endanger patient safety. We conducted a retrospective analysis of new patient referrals made to the 14 most common referral departments at Boston Children's Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2017. The sample included 2031 patient referrals. The mean wait time between referral and appointment date was 39.6 days. In all, 87% of referrals were scheduled and 84% of scheduled appointments attended, thus 73% of the original referrals were completed. In multivariate analysis, younger age, medical complexity, being a non-English speaker, and referral to a surgical subspecialty were associated with a higher likelihood of referral completion. Black and Hispanic/Latino race/ethnicity, living in a Census tract with Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) ≥ 90th percentile, and longer wait times were associated with a lower likelihood of appointment attendance. Future interventions should consider both health care system factors such as appointment wait times and community-level barriers to referral completion.
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Outcomes of Referrals in Pediatric Patients With Peripheral Lymphadenopathy. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2024:00043426-990000000-00401. [PMID: 38652051 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Lymphadenopathy is a common reason for referral to a subspecialist, which may result in significant anxiety for parents. Understanding which patients require a subspecialty referral for lymphadenopathy is key to streamlining health care utilization for this common clinical entity. This is an IRB-approved retrospective study examining pediatric patients consecutively referred to pediatric hematology oncology, otolaryngology, or surgery for lymphadenopathy from 2012 to 2021 at a free-standing tertiary-care children's hospital. Logistic regression was fitted to examine the association between the maximum size of the lymph nodes (LN) and a diagnosis of malignancy. The odds ratio, area under the receiver operator curve, sensitivity, and specificity were estimated. We found a significant association between LN size and cancer diagnosis. For every centimeter increase in the maximal dimension of LN, there was an estimated 2.3 times increase in the odds of malignancy (OR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.65-3.11; P<0.0001). The estimated area under the curve (0.84, 95% CI: 0.78-0.90) indicated that LN size correlated well with cancer diagnosis. A LN cut-off size of 2 cm resulted in an estimated sensitivity of 1.0 (95% CI: 0.87-1.00) and specificity of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.46-0.61). Maximum LN size may be a predictor of malignancy among pediatric patients with lymphadenopathy.
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Navigating Pathways to Diagnosis in Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis: A Qualitative Study. Laryngoscope 2024; 134:815-824. [PMID: 37740907 DOI: 10.1002/lary.31023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Idiopathic subglottic stenosis is a rare disease, and time to diagnosis is often prolonged. In the United States, some estimate it takes an average of 9 years for patients with similar rare disease to be diagnosed. Patient experience during this period is termed the diagnostic odyssey. The aim of this study is to use qualitative methods grounded in behavioral-ecological conceptual frameworks to identify drivers of diagnostic odyssey length that can help inform efforts to improve health care for iSGS patients. METHODS Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Setting consisted of participants who were recruited from those enrolled in a large, prospective multicenter trial. We use directed content analysis to analyze qualitative semi-structured interviews with iSGS patients focusing on their pathways to diagnosis. RESULTS Overall, 30 patients with iSGS underwent semi-structured interviews. The patient-reported median time to diagnosis was 21 months. On average, the participants visited four different health care providers. Specialists were most likely to make an appropriate referral to otolaryngology that ended in diagnosis. However, when primary care providers referred to otolaryngology, patients experienced a shorter diagnostic odyssey. The most important behavioral-ecological factors in accelerating diagnosis were strong social support for the patient and providers' willingness to refer. CONCLUSION Several factors affected time to diagnosis for iSGS patients. Patient social capital was a catalyst in decreasing time to diagnosis. Patient-reported medical paternalism and gatekeeping limited specialty care referrals extended diagnostic odysseys. Additional research is needed to understand the effect of patient-provider and provider-provider relationships on time to diagnosis for patients with iSGS. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4 Laryngoscope, 134:815-824, 2024.
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Rapid Access Scheduler: A Web-Based System for Direct Provider Scheduling to Pediatric Neurology. Neurol Clin Pract 2024; 14:e200233. [PMID: 38156118 PMCID: PMC10752574 DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000200233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Access to pediatric neurology care is limited, and outpatient waits can exceed 6 months. The referral process is often complex and burdensome. Our objective was to trial a program for scheduling access to pediatric neurology, to be controlled and accessed directly by outside providers. Recent Findings We developed a web-based automated system, "Rapid Access Scheduler" (RASr), for direct scheduling by outside providers. RASr is built around a calendar view that allows the provider to see and reserve an available slot at the time of care. Once a slot is reserved, the scheduling team contacts the family to finalize scheduling. Summary The RASr system is a novel approach for facilitating pediatric neurology patient access through direct scheduling by outside providers using a web-based portal. Advantages of this include control and responsibility by outside providers, easy visibility of availability, and opportunity to inform patients and families at their point-of-care.
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Assessing Medical Emergency E-referral Request Acceptance Patterns and Trends: A Comprehensive Analysis of Secondary Data From the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2024; 16:e53511. [PMID: 38314384 PMCID: PMC10838169 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Patient transfers in emergencies have been linked to reduced mortality rates and enhanced quality of care. The Saudi Medical Appointments and Referrals Centre (SMARC), an e-referral system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) since 2019, plays a crucial role in ensuring quality and continuity of care. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the e-referral system and identify potential areas for improvement in the management of emergency cases. Objective This study aims to examine e-referral patterns for emergency medical cases throughout all 13 administrative regions of KSA. Concurrently, it estimates the acceptance rate of medical emergency referrals and investigates associated factors among KSA hospitals. Methods This retrospective study utilized secondary data from the SMARC e-referral system, specifically focusing on medical emergency e-referral requests in the entire KSA during 2021. Descriptive univariate analyses were conducted to characterize the referral requests, followed by bivariate analyses to explore associations between factors and referral acceptance. Adjusted multiple logistic regression analyses were then performed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals, controlling for potential confounding variables. Results A total of 29,660 medical emergency referral requests were initiated across all regions of KSA during the study time frame, and, of these, 20,523 (69.19%) were accepted. The average age of patients with a medical emergency referral was 52 years old, and referral requests were higher among Saudis (13,781; 54.18%), males (13,781; 54.18%), and those from the Western region (10,560; 35.60%). Nearly 20,854 (70%) were due to the unavailability of specialized doctors or specialties in facilities. Based on multi-logistic regression, referral request acceptance was high in some factors as follows: compared to the Central region, requests from the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions had higher acceptance rates at 123%, 64%, 54%, and 46%, respectively. In addition, referral requests that were due to the unavailability of a specialized doctor or medical equipment had higher acceptance rates (19% and 16%), respectively, than those due to the unavailability of a specific specialty. Conclusion This study provides valuable insights into regional variations, sociodemographic factors, and referral reasons within the medical emergency e-referral system in the KSA. By estimating the acceptance rate of medical emergency referrals and investigating associated factors, this analysis confirms the effectiveness of the e-referral system in facilitating access to quality care, particularly for marginalized patients. The study highlights the need for health policy improvements to ensure equitable resource allocation and reduce disparities in healthcare access.
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General and subspecialist pediatrician perspectives on barriers and strategies for referral: a latent profile analysis. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:576. [PMID: 37980515 PMCID: PMC10656818 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04400-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children in need of pediatric subspecialty care may encounter multiple barriers, and multiple strategies have been suggested to improve access. The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of general and subspecialty pediatric physicians regarding barriers to subspecialty care and the value of strategies to improve subspecialty access. METHODS We surveyed a national sample of 1680 general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists in May and June 2020 regarding 11 barriers to subspecialty care and 9 strategies to improve access to subspecialty care, selected from recent literature. Using latent profile analysis, respondents were grouped according to the degree to which they believed each of the barriers impacted access to subspecialty care. Using chi-squared tests, we compared the profiles based on respondent characteristics and perspectives on strategies to improve access. RESULTS The response rate was 17%. In 263 responses completed and eligible for inclusion, the barriers most frequently described as "major problems" were wait times (57%), lack of subspecialists (45%) and difficulty scheduling (41%). Respondents were classified into 4 profiles: "Broad concerns," "Subspecialist availability concerns," "Clinician communication concerns," and "Few concerns." These profiles varied significantly by respondent specialty (p < .001, with medical subspecialists overrepresented in the "Clinician communication" profile, psychiatrists in the "subspecialist availability" profile, and surgeons in the "few concerns" profile); and by respondents' typical wait time for appointments (p < .001, with physicians with the longest wait times overrepresented in the "subspecialist availability" profile). CONCLUSIONS We found specific profiles in clinician views regarding barriers to subspecialty care which were associated with perspectives on strategies aimed at overcoming these barriers. These results suggest that health systems aiming to improve subspecialty access should first identify the barriers and preferences specific to local clinicians.
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The Role of the Neurological Examination in Primary Care Referrals to Neurology. Can J Neurol Sci 2023; 50:922-924. [PMID: 36321544 DOI: 10.1017/cjn.2022.312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Low confidence with the neurological examination may contribute to primary care physicians' discomfort with neurology and a low threshold to refer patients. We surveyed primary care physicians in Quebec about their last three referrals to neurology to evaluate what role the neurological examination played in their decision. Twenty-six physicians answered concerning 73 patient referrals. We found that primary care physicians use the neurological examination to reinforce their decision but rarely depend on the findings. Our results suggest that improving history-taking rather than examination skills may have more impact on neurology referrals, influencing quality of referral information above quantity of referrals.
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A qualitative investigation of uninsured patient and primary care provider perspectives on specialty care eConsults. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1133. [PMID: 37864170 PMCID: PMC10589958 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10086-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uninsured and underinsured patients face specialty care access disparities that prevent them from obtaining the care they need and negatively impact their health and well-being. We aimed to understand how making specialty care electronic consultations (eConsults) available at a multi-site Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in central Texas affected uninsured patients' care-seeking experiences and impacted their ability to receive the needed care. METHODS We used concepts from Ecological Systems Theory to examine individual, interpersonal, organization-level, social, and health policy environment factors that impacted patients' access to specialty care and the use of eConsults. We conducted thematic analysis of semi-structured, qualitative interviews with patients about seeking specialty care while uninsured and with uninsured patients and FQHC PCPs about their experience using eConsults to obtain specialists' recommendations. RESULTS Patients and PCPs identified out-of-pocket cost, stigma, a paucity of local specialists willing to see uninsured patients, time and difficulty associated with travel and transportation to specialty visits, and health policy limitations as barriers to obtaining specialty care. Benefits of using eConsults for uninsured patients included minimizing/avoiding financial stress, expanding access to care, expanding scope of primary care, and expediting access to specialists. Concerns about the model included patients' limited understanding of eConsults, concern about cost, and worry whether eConsults could appropriately meet their specialty needs. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that eConsults delivered in a primary care FQHC addressed uninsured patients' specialty care access concerns. They helped to address financial and geographic barriers, provided time and cost savings to patients, expanded FQHC PCPs' knowledge and care provision options, and allowed patients to receive more care in primary care.
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Cerner Millennium's Care Pathways for Specialty Care Referrals: Provider and Nurse Experiences, Perceptions, and Recommendations for Improvements. J Gen Intern Med 2023; 38:1007-1014. [PMID: 37798582 PMCID: PMC10593700 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08285-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Using structured templates to guide providers in communicating key information in electronic referrals is an evidence-based practice for improving care quality. To facilitate referrals in Veterans Health Administration's (VA) Cerner Millennium electronic health record, VA and Cerner have created "Care Pathways"-templated electronic forms, capturing needed information and prompting ordering of appropriate pre-referral tests. OBJECTIVE To inform their iterative improvement, we sought to elicit experiences, perceptions, and recommendations regarding Care Pathways from frontline clinicians and staff in the first VA site to deploy Cerner Millennium. DESIGN Qualitative interviews, conducted 12-20 months after Cerner Millennium deployment. PARTICIPANTS We conducted interviews with primary care providers, primary care registered nurses, and specialty providers requesting and/or receiving referrals. APPROACH We used rapid qualitative analysis. Two researchers independently summarized interview transcripts with bullet points; summaries were merged by consensus. Constant comparison was used to sort bullet points into themes. A matrix was used to view bullet points by theme and participant. RESULTS Some interviewees liked aspects of the Care Pathways, expressing appreciation of their premise and logic. However, interviewees commonly expressed frustration with their poor usability across multiple attributes. Care Pathways were reported as being inefficient; lacking simplicity, naturalness, consistency, and effective use of language; imposing an unacceptable cognitive load; and not employing forgiveness and feedback for errors. Specialists reported not receiving the information needed for referral triaging. CONCLUSIONS Cerner Millennium's Care Pathways, and their associated organizational policies and processes, need substantial revision across several usability attributes. Problems with design and technical limitations are compounding challenges in using standardized templates nationally, across VA sites having diverse organizational and contextual characteristics. VA is actively working to make improvements; however, significant additional investments are needed for Care Pathways to achieve their intended purpose of optimizing specialty care referrals for Veterans.
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Improving primary care referral to specialist services: a protocol for a 10-year global systematic review in the Australian context. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e068927. [PMID: 37643858 PMCID: PMC10465904 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Barriers to accessing specialist services impart a significant burden on patient outcomes and experience as well as a cost and administrative burden on health systems due to healthcare wastage and inefficiencies. This paper outlines the planned protocol for a systematic review relating to how health systems perform with regard to patient access to specialist care, and the efficacy of interventions aimed at improving this. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Systematic review of the literature will be carried out on publications retrieved by searching the following electronic literature databases: EBSCOhost Megafile Ultimate (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Academic Search Ultimate, APA Psychological Abstracts (PsycINFO), HealthSource), PubMed (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE)), Elsevier Bibliographic Database (Scopus), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Web of Science and The Cochrane Library. Articles published over a 10-year period (2012-2022) will be analysed to determine; current accessibility and availability problems faced by primary care services when referring patients to specialist care, and the effectiveness of interventions to improve primary care access to specialist services. Grey literature publications (ie, government reports, policy statements and issues papers, conference proceedings) will not be analysed in this review. Articles not published in English, Spanish or Portuguese will not be included. Two independent reviewers will conduct the initial screening, disagreements will be resolved by a third independent reviewer, following which data extraction and selection of eligible sources will be carried out. Selected articles will be categorised on study design, setting and participants. Methodological quality and heterogeneity will subsequently be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A descriptive approach will be used to review and synthesise the findings. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study does not require ethics committee review as it solely focuses on analysing published literature. Findings will be published and disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022354890.
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Provision of Food Allergy Care in the United Kingdom and United States: Current Issues and Future Directions. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:2054-2066. [PMID: 36990429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Food allergy (FA) is a growing issue worldwide. The United Kingdom and United States are high-income, industrialized countries with reported increases in FA prevalence over the past few decades. This review compares delivery of FA care in the United Kingdom and United States and each country's response to the heightened demand and disparities for FA services. In the United Kingdom, allergy specialists are scarce and general practitioners (GPs) provide most allergy care. Whereas the United States has more allergists per capita than the United Kingdom, there is still a shortage of allergy services owing to the greater reliance on specialist care for FA in America and wide geographic variation in access to allergist services. Currently, generalists in these countries lack the specialty training and equipment to diagnose and manage FA optimally. Moving forward, the United Kingdom aims to enhance training for GPs so they may provide better quality frontline allergy care. In addition, the United Kingdom is implementing a new tier of semi-specialized GPs and increasing cross-center collaboration through clinical networks. The United Kingdom and United States aim to increase the number of FA specialists, which is critical at a time of rapidly expanding management options for allergic and immunologic diseases requiring clinical expertise and shared decision-making to select appropriate therapies. While these countries aim to grow their supply of quality FA services actively, further efforts to build clinical networks and perhaps recruit international medical graduates and expand telehealth services are necessary to reduce disparities in access to care. For the United Kingdom in particular, increasing quality services will require additional support from the leadership of the centralized National Health Service, which remains challenging.
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Psychiatric consultation: Characteristics, satisfaction, and perceived opportunities among referrers to a 1-time service. CANADIAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN MEDECIN DE FAMILLE CANADIEN 2023; 69:481-489. [PMID: 37451985 PMCID: PMC10348790 DOI: 10.46747/cfp.6907481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To further understand and optimize primary care provider (PCP) referrals to a 1-time psychiatric consultation service by developing profiles of PCP referrers, assessing PCP satisfaction with the service, and determining intervention opportunities. DESIGN Secondary analysis of a referral database and subsequent cross-sectional survey of referrers. SETTING Winnipeg, Man. PARTICIPANTS All family physicians who had made at least 1 referral in 2017 to the Centralized Psychiatric Consultation Service for Adults, a 1-time consultation service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Referral frequency, individual and practice characteristics, satisfaction with the Centralized Psychiatric Consultation Service for Adults, and subjective drivers of referral activity were assessed. Interest in a range of intervention opportunities to increase mental health knowledge and support were also examined. RESULTS Of the 403 family physicians who referred patients to the consultation service in 2017, a total of 111 (27.5%) responded to the survey. Among all referrers, 287 (71.2%) were low referrers (1 to 4 referrals), 65 (16.1%) were moderate referrers (5 to 9 referrals), and 51 (12.7%) were high referrers (≥10 referrals). Solo practice (P=.04) and no access to collaborative mental health services (P<.001) were significantly associated with being a high referrer. Roughly 26.3% of low referrers, 29.2% of moderate referrers, and 15.4% of high referrers were satisfied with wait times for the service. Higher referrers did not identify a lack of comfort with providing psychiatric care as a driver of referrals; more indicated that they had a high volume of patients with mental health needs, that there was a lack of access to alternative services, and that patients sometimes requested referral. Overall, more than 40% of respondents expressed interest in a mental health care navigator, hard-copy resource information, and rapid access to consultation advice via telephone or an electronic platform. There was less interest in other proposed interventions. CONCLUSION We found referrers to the Centralized Psychiatric Consultation Service for Adults to be clustered based on specific practice characteristics, as well as provider-patient factors. Overall, satisfaction with the service was fair and PCPs were not highly interested in a variety of proposed interventions. Future studies should explore how useful 1-time consultation services are for solo-practising PCPs and how best to support these and other PCPs in their management of patients with mental health needs.
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Should physicians team up to treat chronic diseases? JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2023; 89:102740. [PMID: 36930998 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This paper studies referral strategy and effort provision of a primary care physician and a specialist who are responsible for the treatment of chronically ill patients who can be in a mild or severe condition. Two organizational settings are compared, a team in which physicians cooperate and solo practices in which they do not. Team care is strictly superior to solo practice care if the difference in expected treatment costs between disease severities is relatively larger for the primary care physician. Otherwise, solo practice care is weakly superior to team care under reasonable assumptions.
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Survey of ophthalmic imaging use to assess risk of progression of choroidal nevus to melanoma. Eye (Lond) 2023; 37:953-958. [PMID: 35606548 PMCID: PMC10049984 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-022-02110-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to ascertain the use of ocular imaging and the updated screening criteria in the evaluation of choroidal nevus across the United States. METHODS Sixty ophthalmologists completed an anonymous 21-question survey addressing their use of the screening criteria for evaluating choroidal nevi, as well as their use of ultrasonography (US), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and autofluorescence (AF) in daily practice. RESULTS The majority of respondents were from the Northeast (55%), worked in private practice (83%), and practiced general ophthalmology (42%). The 2009 criteria TFSOM-UHHD was used by 39 (65%) respondents, while the 2019 criteria TFSOM-DIM was used by 29 (48%) respondents. Compared to anterior segment ophthalmologists, posterior segment ophthalmologists were more likely to use the TFSOM-UHHD criteria (94% vs. 53%, OR = 13.9, p = 0.014), the TFSOM-DIM criteria (88% vs. 33%, OR = 15.5, p < 0.001), fundus AF (82% vs. 19%, OR = 20.4, p < 0.001), and US (94% vs. 42%, OR = 22.2, p = 0.004) in daily practice. CONCLUSIONS From the survey of current practice patterns, we learned that there is a general trend of underutilization of the proper imaging modalities - and thus the criteria - in evaluating choroidal nevus. More education about ocular cancer and its screening could improve patient outcomes in the future.
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The effect of the Development and Well-Being Assessment as an adjunct to standard referral letters on referral decisions by child and adolescent mental health services - a randomized feasibility trial. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 28:434-449. [PMID: 35337193 DOI: 10.1177/13591045221081384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: High rejection rates for referrals to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are common. The most cited reasons for rejection are that the child does not have a clinical need for assessment and poor quality of the referrals. However, studies of interventions aimed at improving appropriateness of referrals are sparse. Methods: In this randomized feasibility trial, we tested if the Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA) as an adjunct to referral letters could improve accuracy of referral decisions made by CAMHS. The primary outcome of the study was the proportion of "correct" referral decisions. Results: The study included 160 children referred to CAMHS. Almost all (95.6%) participants fulfilled criteria for a mental disorder and 82.1% also reported high impact of symptoms. Compared to the group who did not complete the DAWBA, referral decisions for the DAWBA group showed higher sensitivity (0.63 vs. 0.83), specificity (0.30 vs. 0.42), and negative predictive value (0.14 vs. 0.36) as well as slightly higher positive predictive value (0.81 vs. 0.86). Conclusions: The use of the DAWBA as an adjunct to standard referral letters could lead to more correct referral decisions and reduce the proportion of wrongful rejection referrals to CAMHS.
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Provider-To-Provider Communication About Care Transitions: Considering Different Health Technology Tools. J Healthc Qual 2023; 45:133-139. [PMID: 36848603 DOI: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Transitions in patient care require exchanges of information between providers. This period of transition presents a range of challenges, and inadequate transitions can have serious consequences for patients. Our objective was to understand providers' perspectives about patient care transitions, especially around communication between providers and the role of health information technology in provider-to-provider communication. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Deductive-dominant thematic analysis was used to allow categorization of data based on general themes derived from the interview guides, as well as identification of emergent themes. We characterized three main themes involving providers' perspectives about care transitions. Themes included communication challenges, communication preferences, and suggestions for improving the care transition processes. With respect to challenges around communication, providers highlighted four main concerns. These concerns included the existence of too many methods of communication, high volume of communication, challenges with involvement of multiple providers delivering longitudinal care, and difficulty communicating with providers outside the health system. Providers noted opportunities to improve transitions including improving standardization, enhancing the specialty to primary care transition process, and increasing communication back to the referring provider. Implementation and evaluation of these improvements could be considered by health systems to enhance care transitions.
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Clinical decision-support for acute burn referral and triage at specialized centres - Contribution from routine and digital health tools. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:2067389. [PMID: 35762795 PMCID: PMC9246103 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2067389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specialized care is crucial for severe burn injuries whereas minor burns should be handled at point-of-care. Misdiagnosis is common which leads to overburdening the system and to a lack of treatment for others due to resources shortage. OBJECTIVES The overarching aim was to evaluate four decision-support tools for diagnosis, referral, and triage of acute burns injuries in South Africa and Sweden: referral criteria, mortality prediction scores, image-based remote consultation and automated diagnosis. METHODS Study I retrospectively assessed adherence to referral criteria of 1165 patients admitted to the paediatric burns centre of the Western Cape of South Africa. Study II assessed mortality prediction of 372 patients admitted to the adults burns centre by evaluating an existing score (ABSI), and by using logistic regression. In study III, an online survey was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of burn experts' image-based estimations using their smartphone or tablet. In study IV, two deep-learning algorithms were developed using 1105 acute burn images in order to identify the burn, and to classify burn depth. RESULTS Adherence to referral criteria was of 93.4%, and the age and severity criteria were associated with patient care. In adults, the ABSI score was a good predictor of mortality which affected a fifth of the patients and which was associated with gender, burn size and referral status. Experts were able to diagnose burn size, and burn depth using handheld devices. Finally, both a wound identifier and a depth classifier algorithm could be developed with relatively high accuracy. CONCLUSIONS Altogether the findings inform on the use of four tools along the care trajectory of patients with acute burns by assisting with the diagnosis, referral and triage from point-of-care to burns centres. This will assist with reducing inequities by improving access to the most appropriate care for patients.
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A Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Decision Support Systems for Healthcare Referral Strategies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16952. [PMID: 36554837 PMCID: PMC9778793 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The referral process is an important research focus because of the potential consequences of delays, especially for patients with serious medical conditions that need immediate care, such as those with metastatic cancer. Thus, a systematic literature review of recent and influential manuscripts is critical to understanding the current methods and future directions in order to improve the referral process. METHODS A hybrid bibliometric-structured review was conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Searches were conducted of three databases, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, in addition to the references from the eligible papers. The papers were considered to be eligible if they were relevant English articles or reviews that were published from January 2010 to June 2021. The searches were conducted using three groups of keywords, and bibliometric analysis was performed, followed by content analysis. RESULTS A total of 163 papers that were published in impactful journals between January 2010 and June 2021 were selected. These papers were then reviewed, analyzed, and categorized as follows: descriptive analysis (n = 77), cause and effect (n = 12), interventions (n = 50), and quality management (n = 24). Six future research directions were identified. CONCLUSIONS Minimal attention was given to the study of the primary referral of blood cancer cases versus those with solid cancer types, which is a gap that future studies should address. More research is needed in order to optimize the referral process, specifically for suspected hematological cancer patients.
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Rewards for information provision in patient referrals: A theoretical model and an experimental test. JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 86:102677. [PMID: 36228386 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We study whether bonus payments for information provision can improve the information flow between physicians. A primary care physician (PCP) decides on the provision of information of varying qualities to a specialist while referring a patient. Our theoretical model, which includes altruism and loss aversion, predicts that bonus payments increase the provision of both high- and low-quality information. Running a controlled laboratory experiment we find support for this prediction. If the beneficiary of information provision receives a higher payoff than the PCP, we observe that PCPs more often pass on high-quality information when the beneficiary is a patient. If the beneficiary receives a lower payoff than the PCP, the type of the beneficiary (specialist or patient) does not affect the provision of high-quality information.
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Interaction at the primary–secondary care interface: Patients’ and physicians’ perceptions of teleconsultations. Digit Health 2022; 8:20552076221133698. [PMCID: PMC9716594 DOI: 10.1177/20552076221133698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous qualitative research on teleconsultations has focused on synchronous communication between a patient and a clinician. This study aims to explore physicians' and patients' perceptions of the interaction on the interface between primary care and the Cardiology service of a referral hospital through teleconsultations. Methods This qualitative study was embedded in an organizational case study concerning the introduction and rollout of a new service model that took place at the point of care. The patients and physicians were recruited for semi-structured interviews until thematic saturation was achieved, between September 2019 - January 2020. The interviews were audiorecorded and anonymized. The transcribed interviews were stored, coded, and analyzed in MAXQDA, following the steps for conventional content analysis. Results A total of 29 participants were interviewed. Patients and physicians presented clear views about the role of the GP and the cardiologist and their function in overall structure of healthcare. GPs felt their role was to bring expertise in the patient which could supplement the cardiologists' expertise on the condition. However, GPs had to renegotiate roles in the teleconsultations when they saw themselves in a new situation, together with another physician and the patient. Conclusions Our findings suggest that joint teleconsultations can promote continuity of care for patients in the primary/secondary care interface. Active coordination between physicians with delineation of roles throughout primary-secondary care interface is needed to manage selected patients who may benefit the most from shared care.
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Costs of Specialist Referrals From Employer-Sponsored Integrated Health Care Clinics Are Lower Than Those From Community Providers. J Gen Intern Med 2022; 37:3861-3868. [PMID: 35882712 PMCID: PMC9321287 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-022-07724-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have been very few published studies of referral management among commercially insured populations and none on referral management from employer-sponsored health centers. OBJECTIVE Describe the referral management system of an integrated employer-sponsored health care system and compare specialist referral rates and costs of specialist visits between those initiated from employer-sponsored health clinics and those initiated from community providers. DESIGN Retrospective, comparative cohort study using multivariate analysis of medical claims comparing care initiated in employer-sponsored health clinics with propensity-matched controls having specialist referrals initiated by community providers. PATIENTS Adult patients (≥ 18 years) eligible for employer-sponsored clinical services incurring medical claims for specialist referrals between 12/1/2018 and 12/31/2020. The study cohort was comprised of 3129 receiving more than 75% of their care in the employer-sponsored clinic matched to a cohort of 3129 patients receiving care in the community. INTERVENTION Specialist referral management program implemented by Crossover Health employer-sponsored clinics. MAIN MEASURES Rates and costs of specialist referrals. KEY RESULTS The relative rate of specialist referrals was 22% lower among patients receiving care in employers-sponsored health clinics (35.1%) than among patients receiving care in the community (45%, p <0.001). The total per-user per-month cost for patients in the study cohort was $372 (SD $894), compared to $401 (SD $947) for the community cohort, a difference of $29 (p<0.001) and a relative reduction of 7.2%. The lower costs can be attributed, in part, to lower specialist care costs ($63 (SD $140) vs $76 (SD $213) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Employer-sponsored health clinics can provide effective integrated care and may be able to reduce avoidable specialist utilization. Standardized referral management and care navigation may drive lower specialist spend, when referrals are needed.
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Abstract
Background Many patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis do not undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR) despite clinical guidelines. This study analyzed the association of managing provider type with cardiac specialist follow-up, AVR, and mortality for patients with newly diagnosed severe aortic stenosis (sAS). Methods and Results We identified adults with newly diagnosed sAS per echocardiography performed between January 2017 and March 2019 using Optum electronic health record data. We then selected from those meeting all eligibility criteria patients managed by a primary care provider (n=1707 [25%]) or cardiac specialist (n=5039 [75%]). We evaluated the association of managing provider type with cardiac specialist follow-up, AVR, and mortality, as well as the independent association of cardiac specialist follow-up and AVR with mortality, within 1 year of echocardiography detecting sAS. A subgroup analysis was limited to patients with symptomatic sAS. Patient characteristics and comorbidities at baseline were used for covariate-adjusted cause-specific and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models assessing group differences in outcomes by managing provider type. An adjusted Cox proportional hazard model with additional time-dependent covariates for follow-up and AVR was used to assess these practices' association with mortality. Within 1 year of echocardiography detecting sAS, data revealed that primary care provider management was associated with lower rates of cardiac specialist follow-up (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47 [95% CI, 0.43-0.50], P<0.0001) and AVR (HR, 0.58 [95% CI, 0.53-0.64], P<0.0001) and with higher 1-year mortality (HR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.26-1.66], P<0.0001). Cardiac specialist follow-up and AVR were independently associated with lower mortality (follow-up: HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.48-0.63], P<0.0001; AVR: HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.60-0.83], P<0.0001). Results were similar for patients with symptomatic sAS. All analyses were adjusted for baseline patient characteristics and comorbidities. Conclusions For patients newly diagnosed with sAS, we observed differences in rates of cardiac specialist follow-up and AVR and risk of mortality between primary care provider- versus cardiologist-managed patients with sAS. In addition, a lower likelihood of receiving follow-up and AVR was independently associated with higher mortality.
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A Three-Step System to Ensure Correct Attribution of Named Clinicians for Inpatients. Cureus 2022; 14:e26347. [PMID: 35903560 PMCID: PMC9322072 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.26347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Perspectives of HIV specialists and cardiologists on the specialty referral process for people living with HIV: a qualitative descriptive study. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:623. [PMID: 35534889 PMCID: PMC9082896 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cardiology care may be beneficial for risk factor management in people living with HIV (PLWH), yet limited information is available about the referral process from the perspectives of HIV specialists and cardiologists. Methods We conducted 28 qualitative interviews at academic medical centers in the United States from December 2019 to February 2020 using components of the Specialty Referral Process Framework: referral decision, entry into referral care, and care integration. We analyzed the data using applied thematic analysis. Results Reasons for cardiology referral most commonly included secondary prevention, uncontrolled risk factors, cardiac symptoms, and medication management. Facilitators in the referral process included ease of referral, personal relationships between HIV specialists and cardiologists, and close proximity of the clinic to the patient’s home. Barriers included lack of transportation, transportation costs, insurance coverage gaps, stigma, and patient reluctance. Conclusions Our results will inform future studies on implementation strategies aimed at improving the specialty referral process for PLWH. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04025125. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-08015-0.
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Team Relationships and Performance: Evidence from Healthcare Referral Networks. MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2022; 68:3175-3973. [PMID: 35875601 PMCID: PMC9307056 DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2021.4091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We examine the teams that emerge when a primary care physician (PCP) refers patients to specialists. When PCPs concentrate their specialist referrals-for instance, by sending their cardiology patients to fewer distinct cardiologists-repeat interactions between PCPs and specialists are encouraged. Repeated interactions provide more opportunities and incentives to develop productive team relationships. Using data from the Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database, we construct a new measure of PCP team referral concentration and document that it varies widely across PCPs, even among PCPs in the same organization. Chronically ill patients treated by PCPs with a one standard deviation higher team referral concentration have 4% lower health care utilization on average, with no discernible reduction in quality. We corroborate this finding using a national sample of Medicare claims and show that it holds under various identification strategies that account for observed and unobserved patient and physician characteristics. The results suggest that repeated PCP-specialist interactions improve team performance.
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Associations Between Physician Continuous Professional Development and Referral Patterns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ACADEMIC MEDICINE : JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES 2022; 97:728-737. [PMID: 34985042 DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000004575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Both overuse and underuse of clinician referrals can compromise high-value health care. The authors sought to systematically identify and synthesize published research examining associations between physician continuous professional development (CPD) and referral patterns. METHOD The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Database on April 23, 2020, for comparative studies evaluating CPD for practicing physicians and reporting physician referral outcomes. Two reviewers, working independently, screened all articles for inclusion. Two reviewers reviewed all included articles to extract information, including data on participants, educational interventions, study design, and outcomes (referral rate, intended direction of change, appropriateness of referral). Quantitative results were pooled using meta-analysis. RESULTS Of 3,338 articles screened, 31 were included. These studies enrolled at least 14,458 physicians and reported 381,165 referral events. Among studies comparing CPD with no intervention, 17 studies with intent to increase referrals had a pooled risk ratio of 1.91 (95% confidence interval: 1.50, 2.44; P < .001), and 7 studies with intent to decrease referrals had a pooled risk ratio of 0.68 (95% confidence interval: 0.55, 0.83; P < .001). Five studies did not indicate the intended direction of change. Subgroup analyses revealed similarly favorable effects for specific instructional approaches (including lectures, small groups, Internet-based instruction, and audit/feedback) and for activities of varying duration. Four studies reported head-to-head comparisons of alternate CPD approaches, revealing no clear superiority for any approach. Seven studies adjudicated the appropriateness of referral, and 9 studies counted referrals that were actually completed (versus merely requested). CONCLUSIONS Although between-study differences are large, CPD is associated with statistically significant changes in patient referral rates in the intended direction of impact. There are few head-to-head comparisons of alternate CPD interventions using referrals as outcomes.
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Evaluating a new referral pathway from physical therapists to rheumatologists: A qualitative study. J Interprof Care 2022; 36:932-940. [DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2022.2044295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Multidisciplinary Firms and the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Case Study of Low Back Pain. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 2:781433. [PMID: 35295487 PMCID: PMC8915644 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2021.781433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sixteen million people suffer with chronic low back pain and related healthcare expenditures can be as high as $USD 635 billion. Current pain treatments help a significant number of acute pain patients, allowing them to obtain various treatments and then “exit the market for pain services” quickly. However, chronic patients remain in pain and need multiple, varying treatments over time. Often, a single pain provider does not oversee their care. Here, we analyze the current pain market and suggest ways to establish a new treatment paradigm. We posit that more cost effective treatment and better pain relief can be achieved with multi-disciplinary care with a provider team overseeing care.
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Abstract
PURPOSE This study used a collaborative approach to explore the needs, barriers, and facilitators to developing cochlear implant referral information material that would be valuable for hard of hearing adults and referring audiologists. METHOD During the development of a prototype referral aid to be used within the Australian context, a multistage qualitative study was conducted using a consultative process, informal and semistructured interviews, as well as online surveys. A deductive directed content analysis approach was applied to assess respondents' perspectives. A total of 106 participants (37 hard of hearing adults and 69 audiologists) were involved across the multiple phases of this study. RESULTS Referral practices for the evaluation of cochlear implantation candidacy in Australia are highly inconsistent, supporting the need to streamline referral information. The following facilitators were identified to support the development of referral material: appropriate content, perceived patient benefit, and objectivity. Areas for improvement related to the broadness of the content, impact on professional identity, and accessibility. CONCLUSIONS Practical insight from patients and referrers can inform the development of patient-facing material related to cochlear implant referrals. Streamlining information used in educational material could alleviate confusion inherent to varied health literacy levels and support patients in making informed decisions related to pursuing, or not, cochlear implantation candidacy evaluation services.
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A Data-Driven Algorithm to Recommend Initial Clinical Workup for Outpatient Specialty Referral: Algorithm Development and Validation Using Electronic Health Record Data and Expert Surveys. JMIR Med Inform 2022; 10:e30104. [PMID: 35238788 PMCID: PMC8931647 DOI: 10.2196/30104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Millions of people have limited access to specialty care. The problem is exacerbated by ineffective specialty visits due to incomplete prereferral workup, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Existing processes to guide prereferral diagnostic workup are labor-intensive (ie, building a consensus guideline between primary care doctors and specialists) and require the availability of the specialists (ie, electronic consultation). OBJECTIVE Using pediatric endocrinology as an example, we develop a recommender algorithm to anticipate patients' initial workup needs at the time of specialty referral and compare it to a reference benchmark using the most common workup orders. We also evaluate the clinical appropriateness of the algorithm recommendations. METHODS Electronic health record data were extracted from 3424 pediatric patients with new outpatient endocrinology referrals at an academic institution from 2015 to 2020. Using item co-occurrence statistics, we predicted the initial workup orders that would be entered by specialists and assessed the recommender's performance in a holdout data set based on what the specialists actually ordered. We surveyed endocrinologists to assess the clinical appropriateness of the predicted orders and to understand the initial workup process. RESULTS Specialists (n=12) indicated that <50% of new patient referrals arrive with complete initial workup for common referral reasons. The algorithm achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.95 (95% CI 0.95-0.96). Compared to a reference benchmark using the most common orders, precision and recall improved from 37% to 48% (P<.001) and from 27% to 39% (P<.001) for the top 4 recommendations, respectively. The top 4 recommendations generated for common referral conditions (abnormal thyroid studies, obesity, amenorrhea) were considered clinically appropriate the majority of the time by specialists surveyed and practice guidelines reviewed. CONCLUSIONS An item association-based recommender algorithm can predict appropriate specialists' workup orders with high discriminatory accuracy. This could support future clinical decision support tools to increase effectiveness and access to specialty referrals. Our study demonstrates important first steps toward a data-driven paradigm for outpatient specialty consultation with a tier of automated recommendations that proactively enable initial workup that would otherwise be delayed by awaiting an in-person visit.
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Use of telemedicine for initial outpatient subspecialist consultative visit: A national survey of general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. HEALTHCARE (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 10:100600. [PMID: 34875456 PMCID: PMC8881319 DOI: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2021.100600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence-based strategies are needed to support appropriate use of telemedicine for initial outpatient subspecialty consultative visits. To inform such strategies we performed a survey of general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists about use of telemedicine for patients newly referred for pediatric subspecialty care. METHODS We developed and fielded an e-mail and postal survey of a national sample of 840 general pediatricians and 840 pediatric subspecialists in May and June 2020. RESULTS Of 266 completed surveys (17% response rate), 204 (76%) thought telemedicine should be offered for some and 29 (11%) thought telemedicine should be offered for all initial subspecialist visits. Most respondents who indicated telemedicine should be offered for some initial consultations believed this decision should be made by subspecialty attendings (176/204, 86%). Respondents prioritized several data elements to inform this decision, including clinical information and family-based contextual information (e.g., barriers to in-person care, interest in telemedicine, potential communication barriers). Factors perceived to reduce appropriateness of telemedicine for subspecialty consultation included need for interpreter services and prior history of frequent no-shows. Responses from generalists and subspecialists rarely differed significantly. CONCLUSIONS Survey results suggest potential opportunities to support the appropriate use of telemedicine for initial outpatient pediatric subspecialty visits through structured transfer of specific clinical and contextual information at the time of referral and through strategies to mitigate perceived communication or engagement barriers. IMPLICATION Pediatric physician beliefs about telemedicine for initial outpatient subspecialty consultative visits may inform future interventions to support appropriate telemedicine use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Survey of a national sample of clinicians.
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Impact of an interactive workshop on specialist physiotherapists' practice when implementing a new clinical care pathway for people with musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2022; 57:102466. [PMID: 34742051 DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2021.102466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A new pathway of care proposes early comprehensive assessment and targeted management by specialist musculoskeletal clinicians for people with musculoskeletal conditions at risk of poor outcomes. Adoption of this care pathway is likely to be influenced by beliefs and behaviours of specialist musculoskeletal clinicians. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of an interactive educational workshop about the proposed clinical care pathway on knowledge, beliefs and practice of specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists. DESIGN Mixed methods. METHODS Fifty specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists participated in a 2-day interactive educational workshop. Knowledge, beliefs and clinical practice behaviours were assessed immediately before the workshop and 3 months' later using surveys. RESULTS Knowledge about key guideline messages improved and were maintained at follow-up. Most participants agreed to provide more targeted interventions to patients at risk of poor outcome (92%, 95% CI: 81%-98%) and utilise prognostic screening tools (84%, 95% CI: 71 to 93). However, only 56% (95% CI: 39%-68%) of participants believed implementing a shared care pathway was easy. At follow-up, participants' beliefs were more aligned with the proposed care pathway (i.e., shared care: 83%, 95% CI: 68%-93%). With respect to clinical practice, there were 16% more referrals back to the primary physiotherapist at 3 months than before the workshop. Barriers (practitioner, patient and system factors) to implementation of the care pathway were discussed. CONCLUSION An interactive educational workshop influenced specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists' knowledge, beliefs and clinical practice, but barriers need to be overcome to facilitate widespread implementation.
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Development of an evidence-based reference framework for care coordination with a focus on the micro level of integrated care: A mixed method design study combining scoping review of reviews and nominal group technique. Health Policy 2022; 126:245-261. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Multidisciplinary Clinic Models: A Paradigm of Care for Management of NAFLD. Hepatology 2021; 74:3472-3478. [PMID: 34324727 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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When and why US primary care providers do and do not refer their patients with new-onset seizures or existing epilepsy or seizure disorders to neurologists-2018 DocStyles. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 125:108385. [PMID: 34740091 PMCID: PMC11034734 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring primary care providers' (PCP) attitudes and experiences with referrals of their patients with new-onset seizures or existing epilepsy/seizure disorders may help evaluate whether interventions to coordinate PCP and neurology care reduce treatment gaps and improve patient outcomes. To examine PCPs' attitudes toward, and experiences with, referral to specialty care of their patients with new-onset seizures or existing epilepsy/seizure disorders, we used cross-sectional 2018 DocStyles data to examine study outcomes. We selected a subsample of respondents who had a practice with at least 1% of patients with an epilepsy/seizure disorder and who answered questions about this disorder. We stratified provider actions, referral behavior, and referral enabling factors and barriers by epilepsy/seizure disorder caseload and provider type. We examined different patterns of responses by referral behavior and provider type. The final sample (n = 1284) included 422 family practitioners, 432 internists, 233 pediatricians, and 197 nurse practitioners. Most PCPs refer their patients with new-onset seizures to a neurologist, particularly to determine or confirm the diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Strikingly, about 40% of PCPs did not indicate a referral if their epilepsy/seizure disorder patient was unresponsive to treatment. Internists less likely referred their patients than pediatricians, nurse practitioners, or family practitioners. Less than one-third of all practitioners consulted seizure treatment guidelines. Prompt appointments, communication with the PCP, the patient's insurance, and referral back to primary care may facilitate referrals. Interventions that enhance enabling factors for guidelines-based care and that can increase opportunities for PCPs to consult with neurologists and/or refer their patients with uncontrolled seizures to specialty care are warranted.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Referrals are an important component of patient care, and have been increasing over time. During pregnancy, people have intensive contact with the healthcare system, but little is known about the involvement of different physicians for pregnant patients during this period. This study examines referral patterns during prenatal care visits. METHODS Using the 2006-2015 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and national birth certificate data, we estimate the number of referrals per pregnancy from prenatal care visits with OB/GYN and family medicine physicians. We use multivariable regression analysis to compare the probability of receiving a referral during a prenatal visit for visits with family medicine and OB/GYN physicians, controlling for visit, patient, and physician characteristics. Analyses are weighted to make results nationally representative. RESULTS 224,335,436 prenatal visits over 19,893,015 pregnancies were included; 60% of these visits were covered by private insurance. On average, 0.3 referrals are made per pregnancy (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22, 0.38). A prenatal visit with an OB was 5.5% points less likely to result in a referral than a visit with a family medicine physician, controlling for other characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Referrals are relatively common in prenatal care, and are more commonly initiated by family medicine physicians than by OB/GYNs. Understanding the contribution of multiple clinicians to a pregnant person's health during the prenatal period and how coordination among clinicians impacts care receipt is an important next step. As healthcare becomes more specialized, better understanding care teams of individuals during the perinatal period is important for improving prenatal care.
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Tackling Ambulatory Safety Risks Through Patient Engagement: What 10,000 Patients and Families Say About Safety-Related Knowledge, Behaviors, and Attitudes After Reading Visit Notes. J Patient Saf 2021; 17:e791-e799. [PMID: 29781979 DOI: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambulatory safety risks including delayed diagnoses or missed abnormal test results are difficult for clinicians to see, because they often occur in the space between visits. Experts advocate greater patient engagement to improve safety, but strategies are limited. Patient access to clinical notes ("OpenNotes") may help close the safety gap between visits. METHODS We surveyed patients and families who logged on to the patient portal and had at least one ambulatory note available in the past 12 months at two academic hospitals during June to September 2016, focusing on patient-reported effects of OpenNotes on safety knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes. RESULTS A total of 6913 (28%) of 24,722 patients at an adult hospital and 3672 (17%) of 21,579 participants at the children's hospital submitted surveys. Approximately 75% of patients and parents each reported that reading notes helped them understand the reason for both tests and referrals, and approximately 50% felt that it helped them complete tests and referrals. Roughly 75% of participants were more likely to check and understand test results. Overall, 97% of participants reported that trust in the provider, activation, patient-provider goal alignment, and teamwork were each better or the same after reading 1 note or more. Nonwhite participants and those with high school education or less were 30% to 50% more likely to report that reading notes helped them complete tests compared with white and more educated respondents, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the majority of more than 10,000 patients and parents reported reading notes helped them understand and follow through on tests and referrals. As information transparency spreads, OpenNotes can help activate patients and families, facilitate safety behaviors, and forge stronger partnerships with clinicians.
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Referral Patterns in Oral Medicine: A Retrospective Analysis of an Oral Medicine University Center in Southern Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182212161. [PMID: 34831914 PMCID: PMC8622603 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Referral of a patient from one healthcare provider to another is an important part of the medical practice. The aim of this study was to analyze the referral process to the Oral Medicine Unit in a university-based tertiary center in Southern Italy. A chart review of new referrals to the Oral Medicine Unit during a 24-month period was conducted. The following data were recorded: demographic characteristics, medical history, number of physicians seen prior to Oral Medicine assessment, referral source, diagnostic procedures ordered by referrals, reason for referral, site of lesion/condition, final diagnosis. Then, the rates of correct identification for health-care professionals and the appropriateness of the reference diagnosis based on the disease were calculated with descriptive statistic indicators. There were 583 new first consultations. A total of 62.9% of patients were referred by general dental practitioners, 27.4% by physicians, and 9.7% did not have a referral. The most common diseases for referral were immune-mediated diseases (39.6%) and oro-facial pain disorders (25.2%). Only 28.5% of patients had a correct provisional diagnosis. The results of this study show the need to implement curricula in the field of oral medicine among dentistry and medical students, and to support the continuing education among healthcare providers to reduce diagnostic delay for oral diseases.
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Abstract
We surveyed Canadian rheumatologists regarding beliefs about physical therapists' (PTs) ability to refer patients appropriately to rheumatologists and whether they would accept such referrals. Most (86.9%) believed that PTs can appropriately refer to rheumatologists. However, only 48.2% of rheumatologists would be very or extremely likely to accept a referral from a PT they knew, and 23.5% would accept a referral from a PT they did not know. Conversely, 90.5% would accept a referral from a PT if they could bill it as a full consult. We conclude that being able to bill PT referrals as full consults may potentially enhance the acceptance of PT referrals.
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The association of insurance plan characteristics with physician patient-sharing network structure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 21:189-201. [PMID: 33635494 PMCID: PMC8192486 DOI: 10.1007/s10754-021-09296-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Professional and social connections among physicians impact patient outcomes, but little is known about how characteristics of insurance plans are associated with physician patient-sharing network structure. We use information from commercially insured enrollees in the 2011 Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database to construct and examine the structure of the physician patient-sharing network using standard and novel social network measures. Using regression analysis, we examine the association of physician patient-sharing network measures with an indicator of whether a patient is enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO), controlling for patient and insurer characteristics and observed health status. We find patients enrolled in HMOs see physicians who are more central and densely embedded in the patient-sharing network. We find HMO patients see PCPs who refer to specialists who are less globally central, even as these specialists are more locally central. Our analysis shows there are small but significant differences in physician patient-sharing network as experienced by patients with HMO versus PPO insurance. Understanding connections between physicians is essential and, similar to previous findings, our results suggest policy choices in the insurance and delivery system that change physician connectivity may have important implications for healthcare delivery, utilization and costs.
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[Barriers and factors associated with the use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care in Mexico]. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2021; 37:e00045620. [PMID: 33886705 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311x00045620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to analyze the level and characterize the use of clinical coordination mechanisms between levels of care, and their associated factors, in two public networks of health services in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the COORDENA questionnaire to primary and specialized care physicians in the state of Veracruz. Differences were found between networks and levels of care, according to the mechanism. In both, the referral/counter-referral is mostly used to channel the patient to another level, mainly by primary care physicians. A high reception of referrals by specialists was identified, but few counterreferences in primary care. Being a man and recognizing the primary care physician, as responsible for monitoring the patient in his/her healthcare career, were factors associated with the frequent sending of the counter-referral by specialists. The discharge report is used in both networks to send clinical information to the other level, with more sending by specialist doctors, but with less reception in primary care. In both networks, the follow-up to the recommendations of the mechanisms to standardize clinical care was greater by primary care physicians than specialized ones. The use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care is deficient and limited, with greater use of mechanisms to transfer information than for clinical management. The need to implement strategies that consider the participation of professionals is evident, to favor local adaptation, appropriation and improve their use.
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Professional continuous glucose monitoring and endocrinology eConsult for adults with type 2 diabetes in primary care: Results of a clinical pilot program. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL ENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 24:100254. [PMID: 33898271 PMCID: PMC8054187 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcte.2021.100254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Limitations in access to specialty diabetes care exist. Endocrinology eConsult that integrates professional continuous glucose monitoring (CGM-enhanced eConsult) may improve healthcare delivery, but has yet to be evaluated. We implemented a pilot program for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) managed by primary care clinical pharmacists using CGM-enhanced eConsult and evaluated the acceptability and clinical outcomes in comparison to routine in-person endocrinology consultation. Methods Seventy-four adult patients with established T2DM (age 18-65) were included. Twenty-nine were seen in-person by endocrinology and 45 were seen by pharmacists in primary care. Thirteen patients were referred for CGM-enhanced eConsult. Acceptability was assessed with pre/post clinician acceptability questionnaires and patient assessment of perceived burden. Clinical outcomes included time to first specialty appointment, baseline and 3-month follow-up HbA1c, and antihyperglycemic medication use. Results There were no differences in patient acceptability of the CGM-enhanced eConsult as compared to endocrinology referral or pharmacy care. At baseline, all patients referred for eConsult were prescribed insulin. Three-month glycemic outcomes were comparable, with HbA1c reduction 1% + 2% in endocrinology, 1.5% + 1.1% with CGM-enhanced eConsult, and 1.6% + 1.8% in clinical pharmacy (p = 0.19). Time to an initial diabetes visit with a pharmacist was significantly shorter than with endocrinology, 20 days (IQR 26) for pharmacy vs. 45 days (IQR 54) for endocrinology, (p = 0.0001). Conclusions CGM-enhanced eConsult resulted in more timely access to endocrinology expertise, was acceptable to patients, and resulted in similar short-term glycemic outcomes compared to in-person consultation. Effectiveness of CGM-enhanced eConsults should be further explored.
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Key Words
- BMC, Boston Medical Center
- BMI, Body mass index
- CGM, Continuous glucose monitoring
- Certified diabetes educators
- DPP-4, Dipeptidyl peptidase-4
- Diabetes mellitus, type 2
- ED, Emergency department
- EMR, Electronic medical record
- GLP-1 RA, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist
- HbA1c, Hemoglobin A1c
- IQR, Interquartile range
- Pharmacists
- Professional continuous glucose monitoring
- Referral and consultation
- eConsult, Electronic consultation
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Evaluation of an Interprofessional Learning Experience for Telephone Consultations. ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE 2021; 12:215-225. [PMID: 33688295 PMCID: PMC7937369 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s293735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is limited training for healthcare students in the performance of telephone consultations. To facilitate communication between healthcare professionals when face-to-face interactions are not possible, a telephone consultation simulation was developed. The simulation involved students in a doctor of physical therapy program and senior medical students. This study aimed to explore the development and suitability of a simulated case with a focus on interprofessional telephone consultation. METHODS A convenience sample of 28 physical therapy students and 38 medical students from two institutions in southwest Virginia participated in the simulation experience. To assess the outcomes of the simulation on interprofessional communication, the IPASS verbal handoff assessment was performed by the participants and focus group interviews occurred immediately following the experience. In addition, an assessment of key information provided during the conversation was performed for each of the seven interprofessional groups. RESULTS Students demonstrated near perfect agreement on the IPASS assessment. Five of the seven interprofessional groups perceived that they were able to communicate key information and collectively agree upon a recommendation for the continuation of the patient assessment. The two groups that demonstrated more difficulty with communication appeared to struggle with communicating the patient's past medical history relevant to the current situation, despite the majority of students feeling confident in their communications. In addition, two themes were presented during the interprofessional focus group interviews: 1) clear communication to maintain patient safety and 2) efficiently conveying the patient's background. DISCUSSION The health professions students participating in the scenario were able to consistently note the communication skills observed and reflect upon the need for clear communication between providers during a patient consultation. Key components of an efficient telephone consultation were identified, along with opportunities to improve this type of interaction between health professionals.
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Addressing Care Continuity and Quality Challenges in the Management of Hypertension: Case Study of the Private Health Care Sector in Kenya. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e18899. [PMID: 33595446 PMCID: PMC7929743 DOI: 10.2196/18899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypertension is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In Kenya, the rise of hypertension strains an already stretched health care system that has traditionally focused on the management of infectious diseases. Health care provision in this country remains fragmented, and little is known about the role of health information technology in care coordination. Furthermore, there is a dearth of literature on the experiences, challenges, and solutions for improving the management of hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases in the Kenyan private health care sector. Objective The aim of this study is to assess stakeholders’ perspectives on the challenges associated with the management of hypertension in the Kenyan private health care sector and to derive recommendations for the design and functionality of a digital health solution for addressing the care continuity and quality challenges in the management of hypertension. Methods We conducted a qualitative case study. We collected data using in-depth interviews with 18 care providers and 8 business leads, and direct observations at 18 private health care institutions in Nairobi, Kenya. We analyzed the data thematically to identify the key challenges and recommendations for technology-enabled solutions to support the management of hypertension in the Kenyan private health sector. We subsequently used the generated insights to derive and describe the design and range of functions of a digital health wallet platform for enabling care quality and continuity. Results The management of hypertension in the Kenyan private health care sector is characterized by challenges such as high cost of care, limited health care literacy, lack of self-management support, ineffective referral systems, inadequate care provider training, and inadequate regulation. Care providers lack the tools needed to understand their patients’ care histories and effectively coordinate efforts to deliver high-quality hypertension care. The proposed digital health platform was designed to support hypertension care coordination and continuity through clinical workflow orchestration, decision support, and patient-mediated data sharing with privacy preservation, auditability, and trust enabled by blockchain technology. Conclusions The Kenyan private health care sector faces key challenges that require significant policy, organizational, and infrastructural changes to ensure care quality and continuity in the management of hypertension. Digital health data interoperability solutions are needed to improve hypertension care coordination in the sector. Additional studies should investigate how patients can control the sharing of their data while ensuring that care providers have a holistic view of the patient during any encounter.
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The effectiveness of different patient referral systems to shorten waiting times for elective surgeries: systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:155. [PMID: 33596882 PMCID: PMC7887721 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06140-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long waiting times for elective surgery are common to many publicly funded health systems. Inefficiencies in referral systems in high-income countries are more pronounced than lower and middle-income countries. Primary care practitioners play a major role in determining which patients are referred to surgeon and might represent an opportunity to improve this situation. With conventional methods of referrals, surgery clinics are often overcrowded with non-surgical referrals and surgical patients experience longer waiting times as a consequence. Improving the quality of referral communications should lead to more timely access and better cost-effectiveness for elective surgical care. This review summarises the research evidence for effective interventions within the scope of primary-care referral methods in the surgical care pathway that might shorten waiting time for elective surgeries. METHODS We searched PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases in December-2019 to January-2020, for articles published after 2013. Eligibility criteria included major elective surgery lists of adult patients, excluding cancer related surgeries. Both randomised and non-randomised controlled studies were eligible. The quality of evidence was assessed using ROBINS-I, AMSTAR 2 and CASP, as appropriate to the study method used. The review presentation was limited to a narrative synthesis because of heterogeneity. The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42019158455. RESULTS The electronic search yielded 7543 records. Finally, nine articles were considered as eligible after deduplication and full article screening. The eligible research varied widely in design, scope, reported outcomes and overall quality, with one randomised trial, two quasi-experimental studies, two longitudinal follow up studies, three systematic reviews and one observational study. All the six original articles were based on referral methods in high-income countries. The included research showed that patient triage and prioritisation at the referral stage improved timely access and increased the number of consultations of surgical patients in clinics. CONCLUSIONS The available studies included a variety of interventions and were of medium to high quality researches. Managing patient referrals with proper triaging and prioritisation using structured referral formats is likely to be effective in health systems to shorten the waiting times for elective surgeries, specifically in high-income countries.
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Assuring safety and efficacy of nurse triage for electronic consultation to improve access to specialty care. BMJ Qual Saf 2021; 30:533-535. [PMID: 33542064 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-012619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Nurse-led triage of new sleep referrals is associated with lower risk of potentially contraindicated sleep testing: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ Qual Saf 2020; 30:599-607. [PMID: 33443226 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-011817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The volume of specialty care referrals often outstrips specialists' capacity. The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a system of referral coordination to augment our workforce, empowering registered nurses to use decision support tools to triage specialty referrals. While task shifting may improve access, there is limited evidence regarding the relative quality of nurses' triage decisions to ensure such management is safe. OBJECTIVE Within the specialty of sleep medicine, we compared receipt of contraindicated testing for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) between patients triaged to sleep testing by nurses in the referral coordination system (RCS) relative to our traditional specialist-led system (TSS). METHODS Patients referred for OSA evaluation can be triaged to either home sleep apnoea testing (HSAT) or polysomnography, and existing guidelines specify patients for whom HSAT is contraindicated. In RCS, nurses used a decision support tool to make triage decisions for sleep testing but were instructed to seek specialist oversight in complex cases. In TSS, specialists made triage decisions themselves. We performed a single-centre retrospective cohort study of patients without OSA who were referred to sleep testing between September 2018 and August 2019. Patients were assigned to triage by RCS or TSS in quasirandom fashion based on triager availability at time of referral. We compared receipt of contraindicated sleep tests between groups using a generalised linear model adjusted for day of the week and time of day of referral. RESULTS RCS triaged 793 referrals for OSA evaluation relative to 1787 by TSS. Patients with RCS triages were at lower risk of receiving potentially contraindicated sleep tests relative risk 0.52 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.93). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that incorporating registered nurses into triage decision-making may improve the quality of diagnostic care for OSA.
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