Preclinic telephone consultations: an observational cohort study

Patients referred to secondary care for specialist respiratory review frequently undergo multiple hospital attendances for investigations and consultations. This study evaluated the potential of a preclinic telephone consultation and subsequent coordination of tests and face-to-face consultations to reduce hospital visits. Total hospital attendances were recorded for three cohorts (participants, non-participants and comparators) for 6 months from first specialist contact. Patients completed the medical interview satisfaction scale-21 (MISS-21). The study showed that a preclinic telephone consultation can significantly reduce hospital visits over a fixed period without reducing patient satisfaction. In total, 20.8% of the participant group had three or more hospital attendances compared with 42.9% of the non-participant group (p = 0.001) and 44.7% of the comparator group (p = 0.002). Participants had fewer follow up visits and lower rates of non-attendance/late rearrangement of appointments. This service reduces unnecessary hospital visits, seems to improve patient compliance and may save costs associated with non-attendance and follow up consultations.