The Community-Referred Radiology scheme: an evaluation

Area of Science:

• Healthcare management
• Radiology services
• Public health initiatives

Background:

• The Community-Referred Radiology (CRR) scheme aims to improve access to diagnostic imaging.
• General practitioner satisfaction with the CRR scheme is high.
• Understanding referral patterns and patient demographics is crucial for service evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and user satisfaction of the Community-Referred Radiology (CRR) scheme.
• To analyze referral patterns, costs, and adherence to guidelines within the CRR scheme.
• To identify potential disparities in service utilization among different demographic groups.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data collection through interviews with local stakeholders.
• Quantitative analysis of CRR database records (Oct 2003-Oct 2004) including referral types, costs, and patient sociodemographics.
• Independent radiologist review of a random sample of 100 referrals to assess adherence to National Radiology Referral Guidelines.

Main Results:

• The CRR scheme demonstrated widespread utilization, with general practitioners reporting high satisfaction.
• Chest X-ray was the most frequently requested investigation among 117 types.
• Women comprised 65.5% of users, and Maori individuals exhibited lower referral rates compared to New Zealand Europeans.
• Six percent of referrals did not conform to national guidelines.
• Average investigation costs were higher for New Zealand European and 'Not stated' ethnic groups.

Conclusions:

• The CRR scheme is perceived as a popular, efficient, and well-managed service.
• Lower radiology referral rates for Maori and residents of deprived areas warrant further investigation.
• Recommendations are proposed to further enhance the CRR scheme's accessibility and equity.