Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, 687 Pine Avenue West, V-Building, Room V2.09, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Published: March 2010
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
It is important that inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis be diagnosed promptly so that treatment can be administered in a timely fashion. However, there is considerable evidence that this process of care is delayed in many people. The aim of the study is to assess wait times between primary care referral and rheumatology assessment for new-onset inflammatory arthropathies. We performed a retrospective review related to new rheumatology consultations (N = 202) between September and November 2008 within the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. At this centre, no formal triaging of rheumatology referrals exists. Of the 202 charts reviewed, wait times could be calculated in 164 cases. Only consultations for new-onset conditions were analyzed (N = 161). The results showed that patients with inflammatory arthritis were seen approximately 34.6 days (median 26) post-referral. Wait times for individuals who were ultimately diagnosed with non-urgent conditions (osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and soft-tissue rheumatism) averaged 41.0 days (median 29). In conclusions, compared to non-urgent cases, individuals with inflammatory arthritis were seen about 1 week sooner. Nevertheless, provisional diagnosis provided on referrals did not appear to expedite wait times for persons with suspected inflammatory arthritis. This suggested that other factors, such as the concern of the patient, may have an influence on referral wait times. Implementation of a rapid access program or triage system may be helpful to further decrease wait times for inflammatory arthropathies.
Disparities in coronavirus disease 2019 mortality are driven by inequalities in group-specific incidence rates (IRs), case fatality rates (CFRs), and their interaction. For emerging infections, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, group-specific IRs and CFRs change on different time scales, and inequities in these measures may reflect different social and medical mechanisms. To be useful tools for public health surveillance and policy, analyses of changing mortality rate disparities must independently address changes in IRs and CFRs.
Introduction: The DMAIC approach is a five-phase improvement cycle which enables the advancement of pre-existing processes and was implemented as part of the "lean" process improvement initiative. The present study aims to improve the work efficiency of chemotherapy daycare unit (CDU) at a cancer hospital. The objectives include studying the process flow of the CDU, estimating the patient wait time (PWT) before infusion at the CDU, and implementing new measures to improve its functioning.
Objective: Delays in discharges have a downstream effect on emergency department admissions, wait times, intensive care unit transfers, and elective admissions. This quality improvement project's aim was to increase the percentage of discharges before noon from a hospital medicine service from 19% to 30% over a 6-month period and sustain the increase for 6 months.
Methods: Interventions included introduction of a dedicated patient flow provider (PFP), optimization of workflow, technology assistance with discharge tasks, and multidisciplinary education on patient flow.
ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Australia's first public hospital all-age Sport and Exercise Medicine Outpatient Clinic (SEMOC).MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study of patients referred to and reviewed in the SEMOC, during a study period from March to October 2023, was performed. Outcomes were the number of appointments, number of patients reviewed, proportion reviewed within Queensland Health recommended timeframes, patient satisfaction, proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, and the rurality of the patients based on the Modified Monash Model of remoteness.
ObjectivePatients who do not wait (DNW) to be seen are a problem for emergency department (ED) care. The aim of this study was to identify the rate and reasons of DNW patients during 1month of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsAn observational cohort study of DNW patients presenting to Austin Hospital ED was carried out in August 2021.
