Has a simplified, electronic referral system reduced outpatient waiting times for patients?

The Cwm Taf Community Dental Service (CDS) has previously used a paper system to refer patients to the orthodontic specialists within the Cwm Taf CDS. However, at the beginning of June 2019, an electronic referral system was introduced. Although electronic referrals have had a minimal effect on the overall waiting time for a patient, there has been an improvement in the efficiency of transfer of orthodontic referrals within the CDS. Electronic referral systems have reduced the number of inappropriate referrals, improved patient confidentiality and maintained an accurate record that is accessible from any of the Cwm Taf CDS clinics. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The article highlights the benefits of an electronic referral system with respect to reducing both inappropriate referrals and waiting times.

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Effective Factors in the Establishment and Implementation of Patient Electronic Referral System in the Healthcare System: A Qualitative Study

Iranian Journal Of Health Sciences ◽

10.18502/jhs.v9i3.7311 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fatemeh Tajari ◽

Ghahraman Mahmoudi ◽

Fatemeh Dabbaghi ◽

Jamshid Yazdani-Charati

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Resource Management ◽

Service Providers ◽

Referral System ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Health Services Use ◽

Effective Factors ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Electronic Referral

Background and Purpose: The electronic referral system was established in Iran with the aim of increasing access to care, improving interaction, and efficient use of resources. The purpose of this study was to determine the effective factors in the establishment and implementation of electronic referral system in Iran. Methods: The present study was qualitative with a content analysis approach. In order to collect information, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were used. After interviewing 42 people, the information was saturated. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed, and the main topics were quoted, cited, and coded. The content analysis method was used and all authors participated in the analysis process to avoid bias and agreement. Results: Four main themes and eleven sub-themes were mentioned as effective themes in the implementation of the electronic referral system by the interviewees including resource management (human resource management, financing and equipment, and infrastructure), stewardship (policy-making, inter-sectorial leadership, and intra-sectorial governance), advocacy stakeholders (senior officials and policy-makers related to the program, service providers, community), and social commitment (commitment and accountability of service providers). Conclusions: Successful implementation of electronic referral systems requires the development of an operational plan that correctly identifies the factors affecting the establishment and implementation, as well as the cooperation of all responsible organizations which can help improve the establishment and sustainability of the program. It is suggested that managers and officials active in the field of health services use the results of this study in the establishment and implementation of electronic referral system.

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Improving access to care for children with cancer through implementation of an electronic referral system (IMPACT): A single‐center experience from Saudi Arabia

Pediatric Blood & Cancer ◽

10.1002/pbc.28406 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 67 (10) ◽

Author(s):

Wasil Jastaniah ◽

Taghreed Justinia ◽

Basim Alsaywid ◽

Riyadh Maneea Alloqmani ◽

Saleh Maneea Alloqmani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Access To Care ◽

Referral System ◽

Single Center ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Single Center Experience ◽

Electronic Referral ◽

System Impact

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Leveraging an electronic referral system to build a medical neighborhood

Healthcare ◽

10.1016/j.hjdsi.2015.04.001 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 202-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Delphine S. Tuot ◽

Elizabeth J. Murphy ◽

Charles E. McCulloch ◽

Kiren Leeds ◽

Evelyn Chan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Referral System ◽

Electronic Referral

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Inpatient diabetes: do-it-yourself electronic referral system to support and enhance the Think Glucose project

Practical Diabetes ◽

10.1002/pdi.1864 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 194-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bob Ryder ◽

Wyn Burbridge ◽

Lynne Braycotton ◽

Bobby Ryder ◽

Melissa Cull ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Referral System ◽

Inpatient Diabetes ◽

Do It Yourself ◽

Electronic Referral

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An electronic referral system supporting integrated hospital discharge

Journal of Integrated Care ◽

10.1108/jica-09-2016-0034 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 99-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mark Wilberforce ◽

Jane Hughes ◽

Paul Clarkson ◽

David Whyte ◽

Helen Chester ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Care ◽

New Technology ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Referral System ◽

Discharge System ◽

Content Type ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

Electronic Referral

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the implementation and potential value of an electronic referral system to improve integrated discharge planning for hospitalised older adults with complex care needs. This new technology formed part of the “Common Assessment Framework for Adults” policy in England. Design/methodology/approach Mixed methods were undertaken as part of a case study approach within an acute hospital in the North West of England. First, qualitative interviews were undertaken with practitioners to explore early experiences using the new technology. Second, routinely collected administrative data were analysed, comparing referrals made using the new technology and those made through the usual paper-based process. Findings Qualitative interviews found that an electronic discharge system has, in principle, the potential to improve the efficiency and suitability of integrated care planning. However, the implementation proved fragile to decisions taken elsewhere in the local care system, meaning its scope was severely curtailed in practice. Several “socio-technical” issues were identified, including the loss of valuable face-to-face communication by replacing manual with electronic referrals. Research limitations/implications The small number of patients referred during the implementation phase meant that patient outcomes could not be definitively judged. Research into the longer-term implications and value of electronic referral systems is needed. Originality/value There is concern that attempts to integrate health and social care are stymied by incompatible systems for recording service user information. This research explores a novel attempt to share assessment information and improve support planning across health and social care boundaries.

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Electronic Referral System for Transferred Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.4103/1011-4564.173003 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 248 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kuo-Cheng Lan ◽

Sy-Jou Chen ◽

Kuan-Cheng Lai ◽

Fuh-Yuan Shih ◽

Yi-Ping Chuang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Acute Myocardial Infarction ◽

Referral System ◽

Transferred Patients ◽

Electronic Referral

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Improvement of the Efficiency and Completeness of Neuro-Oncology Patient Referrals to a Tertiary Center Through the Implementation of an Electronic Referral System: Retrospective Cohort Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/15002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. e15002

Author(s):

Rocío Fernández-Méndez ◽

Mei Yin Wong ◽

Rebecca J Rastall ◽

Samuel Rebollo-Díaz ◽

Ingela Oberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Diagnostic Imaging ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Waiting Times ◽

Specialist Care ◽

Web Based ◽

Tertiary Center ◽

Electronic Referral ◽

The Impact

Background Quality referrals to specialist care are key for prompt, optimal decisions about the management of patients with brain tumors. Objective This study aimed to determine the impact of introducing a Web-based, electronic referral (eReferral) system to a specialized neuro-oncology center, using a service-developed proforma, in terms of waiting times and information completeness. Methods We carried out a retrospective cohort study based on the review of medical records of referred adult patients, excluding follow-ups. Primary outcome measures were durations of three key phases within the referral pathway and completion rates of six referral fields. Results A total of 248 patients were referred to the specialist center during the study period. Median (IQR) diagnostic imaging to referral intervals were 3 (1-5) days with eReferrals, and 9 (4-19), 19 (14-49), and 8 (4-23) days with paper proforma, paper letter, and internal referrals, respectively (P<.001). Median (IQR) referral to multidisciplinary team decision intervals were 3 (2-7), 2 (1-3), 8 (2-24), and 3 (2-6) days respectively (P=.01). For patients having surgery, median (IQR) diagnostic imaging to surgery intervals were 28 (21-41), 34 (27-51), 104 (69-143), and 32 (15-89) days, respectively (P<.001). Proportions of complete fields differed significantly by referral type in all study fields (all with Ps <.001) except for details of presentation, which were present in all referrals. All study fields were always present in eReferrals, as these are compulsory for referral submission. Depending on the data field, level of completeness in the remaining referral types ranged within 69% (65/94) to 87% (82/94), 15% (3/20) to 65% (13/20), and 22% (8/41) to 63% (26/41) in paper proforma, paper letter, and internal referrals, respectively. Conclusions An electronic, Web-based, service-developed specific proforma for neuro-oncology referrals performs significantly better, with shorter waiting times and greater completeness of information than other referral types. A wider application of eReferrals is an important first step to streamlining specialist care pathways and providing excellent care. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/10.2196/15002

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Rapid assessment of tiered referral system at a hospital of West Sumatra, Indonesia

Majalah Obstetri & Ginekologi ◽

10.20473/mog.v28i32020.119-127 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 119

Author(s):

Dian Furwasyih ◽

Orsolya Varga

Keyword(s):

Rapid Assessment ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Mobile Phone Data ◽

Referral System ◽

Referral Letter ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Administrative Procedure ◽

West Sumatra ◽

Electronic Referral

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess patients’ perception on tiered maternal referral system (during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum) in a hospital of West Sumatra of Indonesia.Materials and Methods: The design was a cross-sectional interview survey. A convenient sampling technique was used to recruit 134 sample. Our study was approved by the Committee of the Research Ethics of the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University number 002/KEP/FK/2018. An interview guideline was prepared and translated into Bahasa Indonesia. There were two interviewers recruited and trained to collect information for the study. Each interview took approximately 12 minutes and were recorded using mobile phone. Data from the interviews were analysed by using QSR NVIVO 10 and MS Excel 2010.Results: The vast majority of the respondents reported that there was sufficient understanding of the services and the structure of the overall tiered referral system. The complaints addressed the issue of administrative procedure, accessibility, and equity, waiting time and card activation, ease of obtaining referral letter in the primary level of healthcare, and transport duration when the patient has to be referred to advance level of healthcare.Conclusion: The functional use of electronic referral system is an urge for solution. Future studies on patients’ perception and assessment toward healthcare providers’ opinion should be carried out to increase the service quality.

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