The objective of this study was to analyse pattern of referral to Restorative Dentistry Consultation Clinics in a Dental Teaching Hospital. Patient demographic details and referral information were collected on new patient clinics. The majority of patients were female (62.1%). The greatest proportion of patients, 41.6%, was referred from the adjacent urban area. The highest percentage of referr...

Conclusion The PSCS provides care in the community and has released capacity at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS). The orthoptic referral triage system directs patients appropriately to PSCS or UHNS appointments. The refractive prescribing guidelines help to maintain a standardised quality of care. Electronic referral management reduces administrative error. Referral pathway...

BACKGROUND To study the feasibility of using criteria-based audit to improve a district referral system. METHODS A criteria-based audit was used to assess the Salima District referral system in Malawi. A retrospective review of 60 obstetric emergencies referred from 12 health centres was conducted and compared with prior established standards for optimal referral of emergencies. Recommendatio...

Background:Few data exist for referral processes in resource-limited settings. We utilized mixed-methods to evaluate the impact of a standardized algorithm and training module developed for locally identified needs in referral/counter-referral procedures between primary health centers (PHCs) and a Guatemalan referral hospital. Methods: PHC personnel and hospital physicians participated in surve...

BACKGROUND: Referral is a critical part of appropriate primary care and of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy. We set out to study referrals from the aspect both of primary level facilities and the referral hospital in Kilombero District, southern Tanzania. Through record review and a separate prospective study we estimate referral rates, report on delays in reaching...

Objective: To analyze the cases of eclampsia in a referral hospital, like GGS Medical College, Faridkot, with special focus on booked/unbooked/referred, age, parity and antenatal care. Also fetomaternal outcome was seen in all the cases. Materials and methods: All the cases of eclampsia referred from nearby rural areas, civil hospitals and CHCs sent here for specialist care were studied in this...

BACKGROUND Individual feedback on general practitioners' requests for tests can improve the quality of their test ordering behaviour. Little is known of the side effects on hospital referral behaviour when the use of tests is reduced through feedback. AIM A study was undertaken to explore changes in general practitioners' hospital referral rates in a region where their use of diagnostic tests...

BACKGROUND There is evidence of significant variations in hospital referral rates for GPs working in out-of-hours care. AIMS To explain why there are marked variations in hospital referral rates for GPs working in out-of-hours care. DESIGN OF STUDY In depth, face-to-face interviews with a purposive sample of GPs with different out-of-hours referral rates. SETTING Bristol, UK. METHOD GPs...