Adie J, Graham W, Bromfield K, Maiden B, Klaer S, Wallis M. Urgent care in the community: an observational study.
J Health Organ Manag 2021;
ahead-of-print. [PMID:
34013684 DOI:
10.1108/jhom-09-2020-0364]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
This case study describes a community-based urgent care clinic in a general practitioner (GP) super clinic in South East Queensland.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
This retrospective chart audit describes patient demographic characteristics, types of presentations and management for Sundays in 2015.
FINDINGS
The majority of patients (97%) did not require admission to hospital or office investigations (95%) and presented with one condition (94%). Of the presentations, 66.5% were represented by 30 conditions. Most patients received a prescription (57%), some were referred to the pathology laboratory (15%) and some were referred to radiology (12%). A majority (54%) of patients presented in the first three hours. Approximately half (51%) of patients presenting were aged under 25. More females (53%) presented than males. A majority (53%) lived in the same postcode as the clinic. The three most common office tests ordered were urinalysis, electrocardiogram (ECG) and urine pregnancy test. Some patients (19%) needed procedures, and only 3% were referred to hospital.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS
The study offers analysis of the client group that can be served by an urgent care clinic in a GP super clinic on a Sunday. The study provides an option for emergency department avoidance.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE
Despite calls for more research into community-based urgent care clinics, little is known in Australia about what constitutes an urgent care clinic. The study proposes a classification system for walk-in presentations to an urgent care clinic, which is comparable to emergency department presentations.
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