Mackay Division
of General
Practice Ltd
ABN: 21 062 930 385
43 Evans Avenue
North Mackay
Queensland
4740
Australia
Telephone
(07) 4953 4491
Facsimile
(07) 4953 4681
International Telephone
617 4953 4491
© 2008
Mackay Division
of General Practice
STRATEGY FOR MANAGING AGED REFERRALS
Downloads
Mackay Base Hospital Orthopaedic Referral, August 2009 (Medical Director rtf Format)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS
Mackay Division of General Practice
and Mackay Health Service District
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS
Mackay Health Service District and Mackay Division of General Practice will use a similar format to the very successful process that was used by Townsville Division of General Practice Network and Townsville Health Service District to manage aged referrals.
Definition of an Aged Referral is a referral that has been received at least 2 years previously.
Process
- An initial phone call to patient's listed contact details on the referral will be made to enquire if they still need or want an appointment. A letter will follow explaining what actions need to be taken prior to an appointment being made. The patient is requested to re-present to their GP for a "Two Year Clinical Review" and the completion of the "Patient Assessment Form" which will be enclosed with the letter.
- A letter and patient assessment form will also be sent to their nominated GP. An electronic assessment form will be available on the Division of General Practice's website.
- Patients no longer needing an appointment will be removed from the waiting list.
- Any referral information sent to the Referral Centre after three months will be triaged as a "new referral".
Key Elements for Success include the following:
- Support from the local Health Service District and the local General Practice Network/Division of General Practice working in partnership is essential.
- Support and Engagement of:
- GP Community
- Specialist Hospital Consultants
- Referral Centre Staff
- An informed patient population
- Correct Tools
- A formal Media Release to be prepared and sent to all local State and Federal members, radio and local television stations. The patient is not being denied a service; the appointment is not being cancelled. The patient is choosing whether or not to.
- Stay on the waiting list
- The Patient Assessment forms (GP Authored). With the combined wisdom of the GPs and Hospital Consultants, these two groups working together will be able to produce extremely useful information management tools. E.g. the patient assessment form, the contents of a minimum data set and referral template, specialty specific.
Appropriately skilled staff will be employed to work on the initiative and the General Practice Division will collaborate with these staff to ensure GP involvement in the initiative.
This is a key relationship to be built between one or more of the local hospital specialists and a member or group of GPs appropriately credentialed to form a local GP Clinical Reference Group. The Consultants and GPs will meet to produce a locally appropriate and agreed upon Minimum Data Set which will be used as the basis for the "Patient Assessment Form". This may only require one actual meeting.
Many staff working in the referrals management area are unfortunately exposed to negative comments from referring practitioners and patients due to the problems with the current system. We will utilize their skill and knowledge of the existing system to minimize the impact of our new process on their work routine.
The Patient population must be informed prior to sending the first letters. A formal Media Release will be sent to all local State and Federal members, radio and local television stations.
The key elements described in detail has the potential of delivering a short term benefit and will lay solid foundation for a major information management change which is what is required to address the special clinic referral process problems.
YOUR CONTACT:
Mandy Lavarack
Project Co-ordinator
Mackay Division of General Practice
43 Evans Avenue
North Mackay
Queensland, 4740
Telephone: 07 4953 4491
Email:
Last Updated: March 31 2010 11:11:11.