scholarly journals Patients’ experience of a regional allergy service

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Ray Jones ◽  
Anita O'Connor ◽  
Edward Kaminski

<em>Background</em>. The principle reason for referral to specialist allergy clinics is to establish diagnoses and provide treatment plans to help patients manage their allergy. If patients do not accept, understand, or remember diagnoses or treatment, clinic visits may have been a waste of time. Few specialist allergy clinics follow up patients after diagnosis.<br /><em>Design and Methods</em>. This was a postal survey to assess patients’ i) perception of usefulness of specialist allergy clinic visits, ii) under- standing of their allergy, iii) confidence in managing it, and iv) response to joining a regional online forum. Data for patients with confirmed allergy who attended the Peninsula Allergy Service (PAS) from 1998-2009 were extracted from consultant letters to general practitioners. Postal questionnaires were sent to 933 patients; 39% (336) responded.<br /><em>Results</em>. Two-thirds (63%) thought their clinic visit useful and resulted in them being more in control of their allergy; 9% thought it useful but they still had problems, 26% thought it had not been much use. One in six (16%, 55) respondents had major differences in their view of their allergy compared to that recorded by PAS. Over half (56%) had had further symptoms since their clinic visit and 120 patients, who were not confident in coping with their allergy, listed aspects of their lives that gave concern.<br /><em>Conclusions</em>. Specialist clinics need routine feedback from patients if they are to monitor their effectiveness and some better form of follow up for patients is needed to reinforce education and support patients. Public education is important.<br />

Author(s):  
Keane K. Lee ◽  
Rachel C. Thomas ◽  
Thida C. Tan ◽  
Thomas K. Leong ◽  
Anthony Steimle ◽  
...  

Background: In-person clinic follow-up within 7 days after discharge from a heart failure hospitalization is associated with lower 30-day readmission. However, health systems and patients may find it difficult to complete an early postdischarge clinic visit, especially during the current pandemic. We evaluated the effect on 30-day readmission and death of follow-up within 7 days postdischarge guided by an initial structured nonphysician telephone visit compared with follow-up guided by an initial clinic visit with a physician. Methods and Results: We conducted a pragmatic randomized trial in a large integrated healthcare delivery system. Adults being discharged home after hospitalization for heart failure were randomly assigned to either an initial telephone visit with a nurse or pharmacist to guide follow-up or an initial in-person clinic appointment with primary care physicians providing usual care within the first 7 days postdischarge. Telephone appointments included a structured protocol enabling medication titration, laboratory ordering, and booking urgent clinic visits as needed under physician supervision. Outcomes included 30-day readmissions and death and frequency and type of completed follow-up within 7 days of discharge. Among 2091 participants (mean age 78 years, 44% women), there were no significant differences in 30-day heart failure readmission (8.6% telephone, 10.6% clinic, P =0.11), all-cause readmission (18.8% telephone, 20.6% clinic, P =0.30), and all-cause death (4.0% telephone, 4.6% clinic, P =0.49). Completed 7-day follow-up was higher in 1027 patients randomized to telephone follow-up (92%) compared with 1064 patients assigned to physician clinic follow-up (79%, P <0.001). Overall frequency of clinic visits during the first 7 days postdischarge was lower in participants assigned to nonphysician telephone guided follow-up (48%) compared with physician clinic-guided follow-up (77%, P <0.001). Conclusions: Early, structured telephone follow-up after hospitalization for heart failure can increase 7-day follow-up and reduce in-person visits with comparable 30-day clinical outcomes within an integrated care delivery framework. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03524534.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deonna Ackermann ◽  
Amelia K Smit ◽  
Monika Janda ◽  
Cathelijne van Kemenade ◽  
Mbathio Dieng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Most subsequent new primary or recurrent melanomas might be self-detected if patients are trained to systematically self-examine their skin and have access to timely medical review (patient-led surveillance). Routinely scheduled clinic visits (clinician-led surveillance) is resource-intensive and has not been shown to improve health outcomes; fewer visits may be possible if patient-led surveillance is shown to be safe and effective. The MEL-SELF trial is a randomised controlled trial comparing patient-led surveillance with clinician-led surveillance in people who have been previously treated for localised melanoma. Methods: Stage 0/I/II melanoma patients (n=600) from dermatology, surgical, or general practice clinics in NSW Australia, will be randomised (1:1) to the intervention (patient-led surveillance, n=300) or control (usual care, n=300). Patients in the intervention will undergo a second randomisation 1:1 to polarised (n=150) or non-polarised (n=150) dermatoscope. Patient-led surveillance comprises an educational booklet, skin self-examination (SSE) instructional videos; 3-monthly email/SMS reminders to perform SSE; patient-performed dermoscopy with teledermatologist feedback; clinical review of positive teledermoscopy through fast-tracked unscheduled clinic visits; and routinely scheduled clinic visits following each clinician’s usual practice. Clinician-led surveillance comprises an educational booklet and routinely scheduled clinic visits following each clinician’s usual practice. The primary outcome, measured at 12-months, is the proportion of participants diagnosed with a subsequent new primary or recurrent melanoma diagnosed at an unscheduled clinic visit. Secondary outcomes include time from randomisation to diagnosis (of a subsequent new primary or recurrent melanoma and of a new keratinocyte cancer), clinicopathological characteristics of subsequent new primary or recurrent melanomas (including AJCC stage), psychological outcomes, and healthcare use. A nested qualitative study will include interviews with patients and clinicians, and a costing study we will compare costs from a societal perspective. We will compare the technical performance of two different models of dermatoscope (polarised vs non-polarised).Discussion: The findings from this study may inform guidance on evidence-based follow up care, that maximises early detection of subsequent new primary or recurrent melanoma and patient wellbeing, while minimising costs to patients, health systems, and society.Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12621000176864. Registered 18 February 2021, https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12621000176864.aspx


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 621-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Chern ◽  
Mitchel Muhleman ◽  
R. Shane Tubbs ◽  
Joseph H. Miller ◽  
James M. Johnston ◽  
...  

Object Most children with spina bifida aperta have implanted CSF shunts. However, the efficacy of adding surveillance imaging to clinical evaluation during routine follow-up as a means to minimize the hazard of shunt failure has not been thoroughly studied. Methods A total of 396 clinic visits were made by patients with spina bifida aperta and shunt-treated hydrocephalus in a spina bifida specialty clinic during the calendar years 2008 and 2009 (initial clinic visit). All visits were preceded by a 6-month period during which no shunt evaluation of any kind was performed and were followed by a subsequent visit in the same clinic. At the initial clinic visit, 230 patients were evaluated by a neurosurgeon (clinical evaluation group), and 166 patients underwent previously scheduled surveillance CT scans in addition to clinical evaluation (surveillance imaging group). Subsequent unexpected events, defined as emergency department (ED) visits and caregiver-requested clinic visits, were reviewed. The time to an unexpected event and the likelihood of event occurrence in each of the 2 groups were compared using Cox proportional hazards survival analysis. The outcome and complications of shunt surgeries were also reviewed. Results The clinical characteristics of the 2 groups were similar. In the clinical evaluation group, 2 patients underwent shunt revision based on clinical findings in the initial visit. In the subsequent follow-up period, there were 27 visits to the ED and 25 requested clinic visits that resulted in 12 shunt revisions. In the surveillance imaging group, 11 patients underwent shunt revision based on clinical and imaging findings in the initial visit. In the subsequent follow-up period, there were 15 visits to the ED and 9 requested clinic visits that resulted in 8 shunt revisions. Patients who underwent surveillance imaging on the day of initial clinic visit were less likely to have an unexpected event in the subsequent follow-up period (relative risk 0.579, p = 0.026). The likelihood of needing shunt revision and the morbidity of shunt malfunction was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Conclusions Surveillance imaging in children with spina bifida aperta and shunted hydrocephalus decreases the likelihood of ED visits and caregiver-requested clinic visits in the follow-up period, but based on this study, its effect on mortality and morbidity related to shunt malfunction was less clear.


2019 ◽  
pp. 014556131989315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett T. Comer ◽  
Lauren E. Harris ◽  
Caitlin E. Fiorillo ◽  
Thomas J. Gal ◽  
Allyson Hughes

Objective: To report baseline no-show rates in the hospital-employed otolaryngology practice setting and to identify factors that may affect clinic show rates that are targets for potential improvement. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Electronic medical records from October 2012 through July 2014 of a hospital-employed otolaryngology practice were reviewed. Patients were classified by insurance type: commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay. Clinic visits were classified as new patient, follow-up, or postoperative. No-show rates were tabulated for each type of clinic visit and compared. Factors to improve no-show rates are discussed. Results: There was an overall no-show rate of 8.3% for 5817 scheduled clinic visits. Among visit types, follow-up visits had the highest no-show rates. Among insurance types, Medicaid had the highest no-show rates. New patient Medicaid patients, follow-up Medicaid patients, and follow-up commercial insurance patients had the highest rate of no-shows among visit/insurance type combinations. Persistent reminders are a key factor in improving rate of clinic visit adherence. Conclusion: A previously unreported baseline no-show rate was established for hospital-employed otolaryngology clinics. The utilization of repeated, live-person reminders to mitigate the impact of clinic no-show rates needs to be further investigated.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ema Zubovic ◽  
Jodi B. Lapidus ◽  
Gary B. Skolnick ◽  
Sybill D. Naidoo ◽  
Matthew D. Smyth ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEManagement of craniosynostosis at an early age is important for mitigating the risk of abnormal cranial development, but treatment can result in significant expenses. Previous research has shown that endoscope-assisted craniectomy (EAC) is less costly than open cranial vault remodeling (CVR) for patients with sagittal synostosis. The aim of this study was to strengthen the existing body of healthcare cost research by elucidating the charges associated with open and endoscopic treatment for patients with nonsagittal synostosis.METHODSThe authors performed a retrospective analysis of data obtained in 41 patients who underwent open CVR and 38 who underwent EAC with postoperative helmet therapy for nonsagittal, single-suture craniosynostosis (metopic, coronal, and lambdoid) between 2008 and 2018. All patients were < 1 year of age at the time of surgery and had a minimum 1 year of follow-up. Inpatient charges, physician fees, helmet charges, and outpatient clinic visits in the 1st year were analyzed.RESULTSThe mean ages of the children treated with EAC and open CVR were 3.5 months and 8.7 months, respectively. Patients undergoing EAC with postoperative helmet therapy required more outpatient clinic visits in the 1st year than patients undergoing CVR (4 vs 2; p < 0.001). Overall, 13% of patients in the EAC group required 1 helmet, 30% required 2 helmets, 40% required 3 helmets, and 13% required 4 or more helmets; the mean total helmeting charges were $10,072. The total charges of treatment, including inpatient charges, physician fees, outpatient clinic visit costs, and helmet charges, were significantly lower for the EAC group than they were for the open CVR group ($50,840 vs $95,588; p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSDespite the additional charges for postoperative helmet therapy and the more frequent outpatient visits, EAC is significantly less expensive than open CVR for patients with metopic, coronal, and lambdoid craniosynostosis. In conjunction with the existing literature on clinical outcomes and perioperative resource utilization, these data support EAC as a cost-minimizing treatment for eligible patients with nonsagittal synostosis.


Aorta ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. 075-083
Author(s):  
Ashish Chaddha ◽  
Kim A. Eagle ◽  
Himanshu J. Patel ◽  
G. Michael Deeb ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
...  

Background Guidelines recommend frequent follow-up after acute aortic dissection (AAD), but optimal rates of follow-up are not clear. Methods We examined rates of imaging and clinic visits in 267 individuals surviving AAD during recommended intervals (≤1, > 1–3, > 3–6, > 6–12 months, then annually), frequency of adverse imaging findings, and the relationship between follow-up and mortality. Results Type A and B AAD were noted in 46 and 54% of patients, respectively. Mean follow-up was 54.7 ± 13.3 months, with 52 deaths. Adverse imaging findings peaked at 6 to 12 months (5.6%), but rarely resulted in an intervention (3.4% peak at 6–12 months). Compared with those with less frequent imaging, patients with imaging for 33 to 66% of intervals (p = 0.22) or ≥66% of intervals (p = 0.77) had similar adjusted survival. In comparison to patients with fewer clinic visits, those with visits in 33 to 66% of intervals experienced lower adjusted mortality (hazards ratio: 0.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.23–0.97, p = 0.04), with no difference seen in those with ≥66% (vs. < 33%) interval visits (p = 0.47). Imaging at 6 to 12 months (vs. none) was associated with decreased adjusted mortality (hazards ratio: 0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.27–0.91, p = 0.02), while imaging during other intervals, or clinic visits during any specific intervals, was not associated with a difference in mortality (p > 0.05 for each). Conclusions Adverse imaging findings following AAD are common, but rarely require prompt intervention. Patients with the lowest and highest rates of clinic visits experienced increased mortality. While the overall rate of surveillance imaging did not correlate with mortality, adverse imaging findings and related interventions peaked at 6 to 12 months after AAD, and imaging during this time was associated with improved survival.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Ayala Valani ◽  
M Badra Verdu ◽  
C Dussault ◽  
J.F Roux ◽  
F Ayala Paredes

Abstract Background Remote pacemaker monitoring reduces in person pacemaker clinic visits, but a complete remote follow-up could be associated with an increase in total clinical encounters or even admissions, as patients (pts) have less access to a cardiologist or health care provider in a regular basis. Methods Due to a shortage in EP cardiologists between 2009 and 2012 a cohort of 296 pts implanted with a pacemaker, were offered Biotronik home monitoring only follow-up (HM f-p); gradually since 2012, pts came back to usual schedule (once or two a year in clinic follow-up). We matched the same amount of time in HM f-p to standard pacemaker follow-up (STD f-p), aiming to detect any difference in health care utilisation (clinical visits and admissions of all cause). For non de novo implants, the STD f-p period was calculated backwards until pacemaker replacement. Results One third of pts refused, were non compliant or were disconnected early (less than 6 months) to HM f-p only; 200 patients completed a median of 804 days in RM f-p only (range 88–3003 days). Mean age at implant was 74.9 years old (range 22.9–92.3, median 78 y.o.), 57.5% were male and 76% had de novo implants (15% VVI, 82% DDD and 3% CRT-P devices). The median of unscheduled pacemaker visits was 1 (range 0 to 7, 22.5% of pts never required a pacemaker clinic visit during HM f-p). The load of HM messages (number and type -i.e. administrative, clinical and clinical triggering a visit) was similar between both periods of follow-up. During HM f-p there were a median of 3 pacemaker clinic visits saved (range −3 to 16) as expected, but total number of visits were also reduced significantly from a median of 12 (range 1–115) to 8 (0–90) visits p&lt;0.05, between STD f-p versus HM f-P (mean visits reduced from 16.96±16.4 versus 13.91±15.7). Finally, there was not an increase in total admissions between these two periods of f-up (mean of 0.8±1.3 for STD f-p versus 0.4±0.8 for HM f-p, median of 0 hospitalizations for both groups range de 0–8 versus 0–5, p=NS) Conclusion Total remote pacemaker follow-up is feasible in two thirds of patients, and when achieved, it saves in person pacemaker follow-up visits and visits of any cause, without increasing the number of admissions during the same period. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Centre de recherche du CHUS - CIUSSS de l'Estrie


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananta Addala ◽  
Marie Auzanneau ◽  
Kellee Miller ◽  
Werner Maier ◽  
Nicole Foster ◽  
...  

<b>Objective:</b> As diabetes technology use in youth increases worldwide, inequalities in access may exacerbate disparities in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). We hypothesized an increasing gap in diabetes technology use by socioeconomic status (SES) would be associated with increased HbA1c disparities. <p> </p> <p><b>Research Design and Methods: </b>Participants aged <18 years with diabetes duration ≥1 year in the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange (T1DX, US, n=16,457) and Diabetes Prospective Follow-up (DPV, Germany, n=39,836) registries were categorized into lowest (Q1) to highest (Q5) SES quintiles. Multiple regression analyses compared the relationship of SES quintiles with diabetes technology use and HbA1c from 2010-2012 and 2016-2018. </p> <p> </p> <p><b>Results: </b>HbA1c was higher in participants with lower SES (in 2010-2012 & 2016-2018, respectively: 8.0% & 7.8% in Q1 and 7.6% & 7.5% in Q5 for DPV; and 9.0% & 9.3% in Q1 and 7.8% & 8.0% in Q5 for T1DX). For DPV, the association between SES and HbA1c did not change between the two time periods, whereas for T1DX, disparities in HbA1c by SES increased significantly (p<0.001). After adjusting for technology use, results for DPV did not change whereas the increase in T1DX was no longer significant.</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Conclusions: </b>Although causal conclusions cannot be drawn, diabetes technology use is lowest and HbA1c is highest in those of the lowest SES quintile in the T1DX and this difference for HbA1c broadened in the last decade. Associations of SES with technology use and HbA1c were weaker in the DPV registry. </p>


1992 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Reimers ◽  
David P. Wacker ◽  
Linda J. Cooper ◽  
Agnes O. Deraad

The authors examined the acceptability ratings of positive reinforcement procedures recommended to parents seen in a pediatric behavior management outpatient clinic. Parental ratings of acceptability were obtained in the clinic and 1, 3, and 6 months following their initial clinic visit. Acceptability variables were examined by group (parents who rated the acceptability of treatments as high vs. low) and by severity (parents who rated their children's behavior problem as severe vs. mild). The relationship between these variables and reported compliance was also examined. Results show that the acceptability variables were useful in differentiating between parents who rated treatments to be more acceptable and parents who rated treatments to be less acceptable. Differences were also observed as a function of behavior problem severity. Significant correlations occurred between acceptability variables and compliance at each of the follow-up points. Results are discussed in relation to the clinical significance of these findings and the impetus they might serve for future research.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1029-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna L. Berry ◽  
Brent A. Blumenstein ◽  
Barbara Halpenny ◽  
Seth Wolpin ◽  
Jesse R. Fann ◽  
...  

Purpose Although patient-reported cancer symptoms and quality-of-life issues (SQLIs) have been promoted as essential to a comprehensive assessment, efficient and efficacious methods have not been widely tested in clinical settings. The purpose of this trial was to determine the effect of the Electronic Self-Report Assessment–Cancer (ESRA-C) on the likelihood of SQLIs discussed between clinicians and patients with cancer in ambulatory clinic visits. Secondary objectives included comparison of visit duration between groups and usefulness of the ESRA-C as reported by clinicians. Patients and Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 660 patients with various cancer diagnoses and stages at two institutions of a comprehensive cancer center. Patient-reported SQLIs were automatically displayed on a graphical summary and provided to the clinical team before an on-treatment visit (n = 327); in the control group, no summary was provided (n = 333). SQLIs were scored for level of severity or distress. One on-treatment clinic visit was audio recorded for each participant and then scored for discussion of each SQLI. We hypothesized that problematic SQLIs would be discussed more often when the intervention was delivered to the clinicians. Results The likelihood of SQLIs being discussed differed by randomized group and depended on whether an SQLI was first reported as problematic (P = .032). Clinic visits were similar with regard to duration between groups, and clinicians reported the summary as useful. Conclusion The ESRA-C is the first electronic self-report application to increase discussion of SQLIs in a US randomized clinical trial.


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