Telephonetics RESULTS computer-facilitated telephone system: a novel method for patient results retrieval

Patients who may have been at risk of sexually transmitted infections should receive information on the infections for which they are being tested, and how and when they can receive their results. In August 2005, we installed a novel 24-hour computer-facilitated telephone results system in our department and an audit was conducted for the month of September 2005 to evaluate the effectiveness of, and demand for, this service. During the initial audit period, 33.8% of male patients and 50.9% of female patients chose to access their results using the new telephone system, and there were no complaints regarding the system. From January 2006, we adopted this system as our principal method of conveying results, and we present data regarding the running of the system and uptake rates by patients to date. This novel method of results retrieval provides an efficient solution with a high level of patient satisfaction.