Are cataract surgery referrals to public hospitals in Australia poorly targeted?
Vu Quang DoPeter McCluskeyAnna PalagyiFiona J StapletonAndrew WhiteNicole CarntLisa J KeayPublished in: Clinical & experimental ophthalmology (2017)
This audit highlights a disconnect between referral letter content and hospital assessment of patients. Current referrals to public hospitals are poorly targeted, with high numbers of referred patients not proceeding to surgery. Patients commonly waited over 1 year to have their ophthalmic assessment at these public hospital eye clinics, revealing lengthy 'wait-for-waits' as a barrier to care. Standardized referral templates may facilitate improvement of referral pathways and shorten waiting times.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- primary care
- newly diagnosed
- prognostic factors
- mental health
- minimally invasive
- emergency department
- palliative care
- patient reported outcomes
- adverse drug
- coronary artery disease
- coronary artery bypass
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- surgical site infection