Does clinical validation and the implementation of new models of outpatient service delivery have the potential to reduce waiting lists? A pilot study in Letterkenny University Hospital.

Introduction: The traditional outpatient paradigm of seeing patients prior to diagnostic tests and treatment is unsustainable without additional funding. New models of service delivery such as "one-stop clinics", direct access to diagnostics and advanced nurse practitioner (ANP)-led clinics have the potential to improve the efficiency of existing services.

Methods: To determine the most effective changes to improve service provision, the reasons for encounter (RFE) to a urology clinic were assessed using the International Classification Primary Care.

The Potential Role of Edoxaban in Stroke Prevention Guidelines.

With the emergence of edoxaban, the oral factor Xa inhibitors now appear consolidated as the dominant class of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The oral factor Xa inhibitors do not require an adequate time in therapeutic range to be effective, presenting a potential advantage over the vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Guidelines are changing to reflect the increased choice of anticoagulants and as clinicians move away from the VKAs towards the relative safety and efficacy of NOACs, they must consider which one offers the best therapy for their patient.