Related Experiment Videos
Increasing workload and changing referral patterns in paediatric cardiology outreach clinics: implications for
M H Wagstaff1, M L Rigby, A N Redington
1Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney, London, UK.
Insights
Paediatric cardiology outreach clinics are experiencing a 61% increase in patient numbers, indicating a growing demand for services. This surge necessitates planning for more specialists and dedicated facilities for congenital heart disease patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Paediatric cardiology outreach clinics play a vital role in managing congenital heart disease.
- Understanding workload and referral patterns is crucial for service planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the workload of paediatric cardiology outreach clinics.
- To analyze referral patterns to these clinics.
- To provide data for future service planning.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study analyzing outpatient attendance data from 1991 and 1996.
- Data collected from five district general hospitals with stable demographics and referral patterns.
- Methods included surveys of clinic records and case notes via postal, telephone, and on-site visits.
Main Results:
- Outpatient attendance increased by 61% between 1991 and 1996.
- The number of clinics held and patients seen per clinic also increased.
- The number of patients aged 10-15 years doubled during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Demand for paediatric cardiology services is significantly increasing.
- Increased clinic attendance impacts specialist activities in tertiary centers.
- There is a need for more paediatric cardiologists and development of local expertise, alongside specialized facilities for adults with congenital heart disease.
Objective:
To assess the workload of, and referral patterns to, paediatric cardiology outreach clinics to provide data for future planning.
Design:
Descriptive study of outpatient attendance during 1991 and 1996.
Setting:
Five district general hospitals with unchanged local demographics and referral patterns during the study period.
Methods:
Postal, telephone, and on site survey of clinic records and case notes.
Results:
The number of outpatients increased by 61%, with a consequent increase in the number of clinics held and patients seen in each clinic. The number of patients aged between 10 and 15 years doubled.
Conclusion:
These data confirm the impression that demands for paediatric cardiology services are increasing. The increased need for attendance at outreach clinics has inevitable consequences for the clinical, teaching, and research activities of specialists in tertiary centres. An increase in the number of paediatric cardiologists, or development of local expertise (general paediatricians with an interest in cardiology), will be required. Furthermore, the increasingly large cohort of older teenagers and young adults with congenital heart disease underscores the need for the development of specialist facilities.