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Wasson J, Pearce L, Alun-Jones T. Improving correspondence to general practitioners regarding patients attending the ENT emergency clinic: a regional general practitioner survey and audit. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2007; 121:1189-93. [PMID: 17908346 DOI: 10.1017/s0022215107000746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIntroduction:The ENT emergency clinic provides an important out-patient service; however, often, no correspondence is sent to the general practitioner.Aim:To conduct a general practitioner questionnaire audit in order to assess whether a standardised, computerised clinic letter template could improve communication between the ENT emergency clinic and patients' general practitioners.Standard:All ENT emergency clinic patients should have a summary letter sent to their general practitioner.Methods:One hundred general practitioner questionnaires were enclosed with the first 100 ENT emergency clinic template letters sent to patients' general practitioners.Results:Seventy-two general practitioners responded (72 per cent). Of these respondents, only 7 per cent had previously received regular correspondence from the ENT emergency clinic before the introduction of the computerised letter template. Following its implementation, such a letter was sent to 100 per cent of the clinic patients' general practitioners. Ninety-seven per cent of the general practitioners valued the template letter, with a mean satisfaction score of 8.4 on a 10-point scale. Eighty-six per cent of the general practitioners stated that they would not prefer a dictated letter.Conclusion:The introduction of a simple, computerised clinic letter template improves communication with ENT emergency clinic patients' general practitioners.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wasson
- Department of Otolaryngology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
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