Referral Process Enhancement: Innovative Approaches and Best Practices

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Inefficiencies in patient referral systems can lead to delays in cancer care.
• Optimizing the referral process is crucial for timely patient access to specialized oncology services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the efficiency of the oncology referral system at Sultan Qaboos Comprehensive Cancer Care and Research Centre (SQCCCRC).
• To reduce the average patient acceptance time and the delay between acceptance and the first appointment.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental project using a one-group pretest-posttest design.
• Implementation of a comprehensive referral system including technology, policy changes, and training.
• Utilized the FOCUS PDCA approach for project implementation.

Main Results:

• Average patient acceptance time decreased from 4.3 to 1.3 days (p < .0001).
• Average time to first visit appointment after acceptance reduced from 8.6 to 4.0 days (p < .0).

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrates a significant advancement in optimizing the oncology referral process.
• Highlights the importance of continuous efforts to improve patient referral efficiency in cancer care.