Improving the Format, Content, and Writing Process of Outpatient Clinic Letters Within a Musculoskeletal Therapy...

Outpatient clinic letters are recognized as an important component of patient care. This project aimed to coproduce clinic letters that have meaning and relevance for key stakeholders.

This health care improvement project was conducted in one musculoskeletal therapy (physiotherapy and osteopathy) department in southern England using a Lean Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control-inspired framework. The views and experiences of key stakeholders, including therapists, general practitioners, and patients, were explored using surveys and group meeting methods. New letter designs were coproduced with stakeholders, including patient partners and personalized care lead staff, and were refined through a pilot phase. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically, and quantitative data were analyzed descriptively.

Overall, patients and therapists found the clinic letters an important and meaningful part of care. However, therapists reported that they often did not write the letters, and time was identified as the main barrier. The main theme identified from patient feedback was that patients wanted to write the letters in collaboration with the clinician. The pilot phase demonstrated that, on average, the new letters took less time to write.

This project has coproduced new clinic letters and operational processes centered on the needs of key stakeholders. This article will help other outpatient departments reflect on their own clinic letters and consider their meaning and relevance for their stakeholders.