Paediatrician perceptions of patient referral and discharge

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary L. Freed ◽  
Erin Turbitt ◽  
Sarah Gafforini ◽  
Marina Kunin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Referral Process ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
History Of ◽  
Efficient Care

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the factors involved in the decision of paediatric specialists to discharge patients back to their primary care provider following referral. Return of patients to primary care, when medically appropriate, is essential to provide efficient care to children given the limited workforce of paediatric subspecialists in Australia. Methods Data were compiled from a self-completed mail survey of all paediatricians in five specialties at two children’s hospitals in Melbourne (n = 81). Analysis involved frequency distributions and descriptive analyses, followed by bivariate analyses to determine the differences, if any, among respondents based on the demographic variables collected. Results The response rate was 91%. Most paediatricians (73%) believed that at least sometimes referrals were for a condition general practitioners (GPs) should be able to manage themselves. However, only 36% reported that they frequently or almost always provided the referring GP with information on how to care for the particular condition without a referral. Concerns regarding whether a patient would receive required care following discharge were felt to be important by most paediatricians. Further, many paediatricians reported that their discharge decision is affected by concerns it would be too complicated to arrange for a GP to take over the care of a patient. Conclusions Understanding the factors involved in the referral process and the decision to discharge patients from speciality care clinics to primary care is essential to develop strategies to address long waiting times. Ensuring appropriate referral of children involves the participation of GPs, parents and specialists. What is known about the topic? Most paediatric subspecialists practice in paediatric hospitals, where there is a sufficient volume of patients requiring their services. There have been reports across Australia of increased referrals to general and subspecialist paediatricians, with subsequent increases in waiting times and difficulties accessing timely care for children. There are anecdotal reports of inappropriate referrals to paediatric subspecialty clinics. What does this paper add? There is broad sentiment among paediatric specialists that they receive many referrals from GPs without either a clear rationale for the referral and/or sufficient information regarding the clinical history of the patient. Few paediatricians report contacting the referring GP to obtain additional information. Paediatricians believe parents are a frequent driver of both necessary and unnecessary referrals. What are the implications for practitioners? Understanding the factors involved in the referral process and the decision to discharge patients from speciality care clinics to primary care is essential to develop strategies to address long waiting times.

Parental preferences for paediatric specialty follow-up care

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Kunin ◽  
Erin Turbitt ◽  
Sarah A. Gafforini ◽  
Lena A. Sanci ◽  
Neil A. Spike ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Paediatric Patients ◽  
Parental Preferences ◽  
Follow Up Care ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Previous Visit

Objective The aim of the present study was to examine factors associated with: (1) parental preference to receive follow-up care for their child from a general practitioner (GP); and (2) a decision to seek treatment when there is a slight worsening of their child’s condition. Methods Parents presenting with their child at any one of five paediatric out-patient clinics at two public hospitals in Melbourne (Vic., Australia) were surveyed. We performed frequency distributions, bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate associations with the preference for a GP for follow-up care and treatment in case of a slight worsening. Results In all, 606 parents were recruited to the study, 283 being new presentations and 323 presenting for review. GPs were selected as the preference for follow-up care by 23% (n = 142) of respondents, and 26% (n = 160) reported they would seek treatment from a GP if the condition of their child were to worsen slightly. There was an increased likelihood to prefer a GP for follow-up care for new patients (odds ratio (OR) 3.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.99–4.83), those attending general paediatrics clinic (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.11–2.70), and parents with a lower level of education (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.09–2.78). For review patients, if during the previous visit a paediatrician suggested follow-up with a GP, parents were more likely to prefer a GP as a follow-up provider (OR 6.70; 95% CI 3.42–13.10) and to seek treatment from a GP in case of a slight worsening (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.03–3.37). Conclusion Most parents attending paediatric out-patient appointments prefer to return for follow-up care; however, a paediatrician’s advice may have an important role in return of paediatric patients to primary care. What is known about the topic? In Australia, there has been a growing concern regarding long waiting times for specialist consultations in out-patient clinics and difficulties with access for new patients. This has occurred when the ratio of review attendees to new patients has tipped towards the review attendees. What does this paper add? Most parents of children attending paediatric out-patient clinics value follow-up care with paediatric specialists, even if the referring GP requested a return to their surgery. The advice of the consulting paediatrician in support of follow-up care with a GP contributes significantly to the willingness of parents to return to primary care and to seek treatment from their GP for a slight worsening of their child’s condition. What are the implications for practitioners? The findings of the present study have significant implications for the discharge of patients from speciality care: paediatricians can have an important role in the return of paediatric patients to primary care.

Component resolved diagnostics in peanut sensitized children with and without a history of clinical reaction

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 336-340
Author(s):  
Yasmin Hamzavi Abedi ◽  
Cristina P. Sison ◽  
Punita Ponda
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Specific Ige ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Ara H 1 ◽  
Sige Level ◽  
History Of ◽  
Laboratory Procedures ◽  
Ige Mediated ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Serum Peanut-specific-IgE (PN-sIgE) and peanut-component-resolved-diagnostics (CRD) are often ordered simultaneously in the evaluation for peanut allergy. Results often guide the plans for peanut oral challenge. However, the clinical utility of CRD at different total PN-sIgE levels is unclear. A commonly used predefined CRD Ara h2 cutoff value in the literature predicting probability of peanut challenge outcomes is 0.35kUA/L. Objective: To examine the utility of CRD in patients with and without a history of clinical reactivity to peanut (PN). Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 196 children with PN-sIgE and CRD testing, of which, 98 patients had a clinical history of an IgE-mediated reaction when exposed to PN and 98 did not. The Fisher's exact test was used to assess the relationship between CRD and PN-sIgE at different cutoff levels, McNemar test and Gwet’s approach (AC1 statistic) were used to examine agreement between CRD and PN-sIgE, and logistic regression was used to assess differences in the findings between patients with and without reaction history. Results: Ara h 1, 2, 3, or 9 (ARAH) levels ≤0.35 kUA/L were significantly associated with PN-sIgE levels <2 kUA/L rather than ≥2 kUA/L (p < 0.0001). When the ARAH threshold was increased to 1 kUA/L and 2 kUA/L, these thresholds were still significantly associated with PN-sIgE levels of <2, <5, and <14 kUA/L. These findings were not significantly different in patients with and without a history of clinical reactivity. Conclusion: ARAH values correlated with PN-sIgE. Regardless of clinical history, ARAH levels are unlikely to be below 0.35, 1, or 2 kUA/L if the PN-sIgE level is >2 kUA/L. Thus, if possible, practitioners should consider PN-sIgE rather than automatically ordering CRD with PN-sIgE every time. Laboratory procedures that allow automatically and reflexively adding CRD when the PN-sIgE level is ≤5 kUA/L can be helpful. However, further studies are needed in subjects with challenge-proven PN allergy.

Stepping up detection, response, preparedness and readiness measures for “COVID-19”- A Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1042-1047
Author(s):  
Khushbu Balsara ◽  
Deepankar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Short Period ◽  
History Of ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Care Worker

In a very short period of time, “COVID-19” has seized the consciousness globally by making remarkable changes in our day to day living and has superintended as a public health emergency globally. It has high radar of transmission, affecting an individual at work to frontline workers. The measures and planning for a response plays a key role from drawing up an emergency committee and this follows an equation which broadly deals with epidemiological to clinical history of the patient, management steps from isolation, screening, diagnostic assays for identification and treatment. The application of an organized plan with secure structure aids in better performance, increases efficacy of management and saves time. Also saves time for a health care worker to g through routine levels of channels of administration if already a familiar way of operation is known for such situations. Thus, planning and developing a ‘blueprint of approach’ towards management of patient while facing such situation is a must. This review provides an insight to the measures for detection, response and preparedness of the hospital and health care workers should largely be inclusive of; also highlights the measures to be taken at every step after coming in contact with a positive case of “COVID-19”.

Improving Access to Oral Surgery Services in Primary Care

2009 ◽  
Vol os16 (4) ◽  
pp. 137-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Kendall
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Oral Surgery ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Primary Care Trust ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Dental Services ◽  
Collaborative Working ◽  
World Class ◽  
Further Development

This paper describes the innovative use of National Health Service (NHS) dental commissioning powers to develop specialist primary care based oral surgery services. The outcomes, after one full year of the scheme, have been substantial improvement in access and reduced waiting times for patients, further development of NHS primary care dental services through commissioning processes, increased use and engagement of oral surgery specialists outside of a hospital setting, and considerable ongoing savings to the NHS. Collaborative working between hospital consultants and managers, Primary Care Trust dental commissioners, general dental practice providers, specialist oral surgeons and a dental public health consultant has resulted in sustainable benefits to patients and the NHS within the World Class Commissioning framework.

scholarly journals Persistent vegetative state: an overview

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Alexander Quiñones-Ossa ◽  
Yeider A. Durango-Espinosa ◽  
Tariq Janjua ◽  
Luis Rafael Moscote-Salazar ◽  
Amit Agrawal
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Persistent Vegetative State ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Disorder Of Consciousness ◽  
Family Perspective ◽  
Patient Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
State Diagnosis

Abstract Background Disorder of consciousness diagnosis, especially when is classified as persistent vegetative state (without misestimating the other diagnosis classifications), in the intensive care is an important diagnosis to evaluate and treat. Persistent vegetative state diagnosis is a challenge in the daily clinical practice because the diagnosis is made mainly based upon the clinical history and the patient behavior observation. There are some specific criteria for this diagnosis, and this could be very tricky when the physician is not well trained. Main body We made a literature review regarding the persistent vegetative state diagnosis, clinical features, management, prognosis, and daily medical practice challenges while considering the bioethical issues and the family perspective about the patient status. The objective of this overview is to provide updated information regarding this clinical state’s features while considering the current medical literature available. Conclusions Regardless of the currently available guidelines and literature, there is still a lot of what we do not know about the persistent vegetative state. There is a lack of evidence regarding the optimal diagnosis and even more, about how to expect a natural history of this disorder of consciousness. It is important to recall that the patients (despite of their altered mental state diagnosis) should always be treated to avoid some of the intensive care unit long-stance complications.

scholarly journals Anaphylactic Death: A New Forensic Workflow for Diagnosis

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Esposito ◽  
Angelo Montana ◽  
Aldo Liberto ◽  
Veronica Filetti ◽  
Nunzio Di Nunno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical History ◽  
Rapid Onset ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Laryngeal Edema ◽  
Tryptase Level ◽  
Antibody Staining ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
History Of ◽  
Immunohistochemical Techniques

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening or fatal clinical emergency characterized by rapid onset, and death may be sudden. The margin of certainty about the diagnosis of anaphylactic death is not well established. The application of immunohistochemical techniques combined with the evaluation of blood tryptase concentrations opened up a new field of investigation into anaphylactic death. The present study investigated eleven autopsy cases of anaphylactic death, carried out between 2005 and 2017, by the Departments of Forensic Pathology of the Universities of Foggia and Catania (Italy). An analysis of the medical records was carried out in all autopsies. Seven autopsies were carried out on males and four on females. Of the eleven cases, one showed a history of asthma, one of food ingestion, two of oral administration of medications, six did not refer any allergy history, and one subject was unknown. All cases (100%) showed pulmonary congestion and edema; 7/11 (64%) of the cases had pharyngeal/laryngeal edema and mucus plugging in the airway; only one case (9%) had a skin reaction that was found during external examination. Serum tryptase concentration was measured in ten cases, and the mean value was 133.5 µg/L ± 177.9. The immunohistochemical examination using an anti-tryptase antibody on samples from the lungs, pharynx/larynx, and skin site of medication injection showed that all cases (100%) were strongly immunopositive for anti-tryptase antibody staining on lung samples; three cases (30%) were strongly immunopositive for anti-tryptase antibody staining on pharyngeal/laryngeal samples; and eight cases (80%) were strongly immunopositive for anti-tryptase antibody staining on skin samples. We conclude that a typical clinical history, blood tryptase level >40 µg/L, and strongly positive anti-tryptase antibody staining in the immunohistochemical investigation may represent reliable parameters in the determination of anaphylactic death with the accuracy needed for forensic purposes.

scholarly journals The contribution of depressive ‘disorder characteristics’ to determinations of prognosis for adults with depression: an individual patient data meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Joshua E. J. Buckman ◽  
Rob Saunders ◽  
Zachary D. Cohen ◽  
Phoebe Barnett ◽  
Katherine Clarke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressive Symptom ◽  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Individual Patient Data ◽  
Antidepressant Treatment ◽  
Patient Data ◽  
History Of ◽  
Depressive Symptom Severity

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate general factors associated with prognosis regardless of the type of treatment received, for adults with depression in primary care. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central (inception to 12/01/2020) for RCTs that included the most commonly used comprehensive measure of depressive and anxiety disorder symptoms and diagnoses, in primary care depression RCTs (the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule: CIS-R). Two-stage random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. Results Twelve (n = 6024) of thirteen eligible studies (n = 6175) provided individual patient data. There was a 31% (95%CI: 25 to 37) difference in depressive symptoms at 3–4 months per standard deviation increase in baseline depressive symptoms. Four additional factors: the duration of anxiety; duration of depression; comorbid panic disorder; and a history of antidepressant treatment were also independently associated with poorer prognosis. There was evidence that the difference in prognosis when these factors were combined could be of clinical importance. Adding these variables improved the amount of variance explained in 3–4 month depressive symptoms from 16% using depressive symptom severity alone to 27%. Risk of bias (assessed with QUIPS) was low in all studies and quality (assessed with GRADE) was high. Sensitivity analyses did not alter our conclusions. Conclusions When adults seek treatment for depression clinicians should routinely assess for the duration of anxiety, duration of depression, comorbid panic disorder, and a history of antidepressant treatment alongside depressive symptom severity. This could provide clinicians and patients with useful and desired information to elucidate prognosis and aid the clinical management of depression.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document