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AimsTo evaluate uptake, timing and usefulness of a new Paediatric telephone advice clinic at a busy District General Hospital.Local GPs currently have only two choices when referring for a paediatric opinion- same day A&E assessment or 8 week wait for outpatient review. We surveyed the existing referrals system and asked local GPs on options to improve primary-secondary care communication.Using those results we developed a new telephone advice service. Following an online referral GPs are allocated a next working day timed slot, when they are contacted by the attending Consultant Paediatrician. There are two daily appointments available Monday-Friday. Local CCG agreed to fund the advice service on a trial basis from April 2015.MethodsAfter 6 months of the service we retrospectively reviewed all referrals received. Timings of referral to consultation were noted. A paediatric SpR reviewed all outcomes and assessed whether an OPD referral had been avoided.ResultsPrevious surveys identified that 16% of phone calls to the on-call team were for advice only. 21% of OPD referrals could have been alternatively managed. 28/30 local GPs asked for access to consultant-led telephone advice.63 referrals were received in six months (average 2 /week). This represented a low uptake with only 21% of the available appointments slots used. One (8%) of these met the target for next day consultation (Figure 1).37 referrals (59%) were managed in primary care after advice and no further referral made to secondary care (Figure 2). Only nine (14%) telephone consultations led to Paediatric OPD referral and one (8%) led to a same day ED referral.Abstract G196(P) Figure 1Time from receipt of referral to allocated telephone advice appointment. Average time was 4 working daysAbstract G196(P) Figure 2Referral outcome of telephone-based consultationConclusionThe telephone advice clinic fills a gap requested by local GPs to improve the interface between primary and secondary care. Based on the current uptake rate it has the potential to prevent over 70 OPD referrals a year, a 10% reduction in annual referral rate.However, the service has not yet met the target of next working day advice. There is also scope to improve take-up by GPs as only 21% of available slots were utilised in this first 6 months.

Background sub-Saharan African Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries (sSA LLMICs) have the highest burden of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in the world. Timely and appropriate maternal referral to a suitable health facility is an indicator of effective health systems. In this systematic review we aimed to identify which referral practices are delivered according to accepted standards for pregnant women and newborns in sSA LLMICs by competent healthcare providers in line with the needs of pregnant women. Methods Six electronic databases were systematically searched for primary data studies (2009–2018) in English reporting on maternal referral practices and their effectiveness. We conducted a content analysis guided by a framework for assessing the quality of maternal referral. Quality referral was defined as: timely identification of signal functions, established guidelines or standards, adequate documentation, staff accompaniment and prompt care by competent healthcare providers in the receiving facility. Results Seventeen articles were included in the study. Most studies were quantitative ( n  = 11). Two studies reported that women were dissatisfied due to delays in referral processes that affected their health. Most articles (10) reported that women were not accompanied to higher levels of care, delays in referral processes, transport challenges and poor referral documentation. Some healthcare providers administered essential drugs such as misoprostol prior to referral. Conclusions Efforts to improve maternal health in LLMICs should aim to enhance maternity care providers’ ability to identify conditions that demand referral. Low cost transport is needed to mitigate barriers of referral. To ensure quality maternal referral, district level health managers should be trained and equipped with the skills needed to monitor and evaluate referral documentation, including quality and efficiency of maternal referrals. Trial registration Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration CRD42018114261 .

Background An effective referral system is essential for a high-quality health system that provides safe surgical care while optimizing patient outcomes and ensuring efficiency. The role of referral systems in countries with under-resourced health systems is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the rates, preventability, reasons and patterns of outward referrals of surgical patients across three levels of the healthcare system in Northern Tanzania. Methods Referrals from surgical and obstetric wards were assessed at 20 health facilities in five rural regions prospectively over 3 months. Trained physician data collectors used data collection forms to capture referral details daily from hospital referral letters and through discussions with clinicians and nurses. Referrals were deemed preventable if the presenting condition was one that should be managed at the referring facility level per the national surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia plan but was referred. Results Seven hundred forty-three total outward referrals were recorded during the study period. The referral rate was highest at regional hospitals (2.9%), followed by district hospitals (1.9%) and health centers (1.5%). About 35% of all referrals were preventable, with the highest rate from regional hospitals (70%). The most common reasons for referrals were staff-related (76%), followed by equipment (55%) and drugs or supplies (21%). Patient preference accounted for 1% of referrals. Three quarters of referrals (77%) were to the zonal hospital, followed by the regional hospitals (17%) and district hospitals (12%). The most common reason for referral to zonal (84%) and regional level (66%) hospitals was need for specialist care while the most common reason for referral to district level hospitals was non-functional imaging diagnostic equipment (28%). Conclusions Improving the referral system in Tanzania, in order to improve quality and efficiency of patient care, will require significant investments in human resources and equipment to meet the recommended standards at each level of care. Specifically, improving access to specialists at regional referral and district hospitals is likely to reduce the number of preventable referrals to higher level hospitals, thereby reducing overcrowding at higher-level hospitals and improving the efficiency of the health system.

Telemedicine can help mitigate important health care challenges, such as demographic changes and the current COVID-19 pandemic, in high-income countries such as Germany. It gives physicians and patients the opportunity to interact via video consultations, regardless of their location, thus offering cost and time savings for both sides. We aimed to investigate whether telemedicine can be implemented efficiently in the follow-up care for patients in orthopedic and trauma surgery, with respect to patient satisfaction, physician satisfaction, and quality of care. We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial in a German university hospital and enrolled 60 patients with different knee and shoulder conditions. For follow-up appointments, patients received either an in-person consultation in the clinic (control group) or a video consultation with their physician (telemedicine group). Patients' and physicians' subsequent evaluations of these follow-up appointments were collected and assessed using separate questionnaires. On the basis of data from 52 consultations after 8 withdrawals, it was found that patients were slightly more satisfied with video consultations (mean 1.58, SD 0.643) than with in-clinic consultations (mean 1.64, SD 0.569), although the difference was not statistically significant (P=.69). After excluding video consultations marred by technical problems, no significant difference was found in physician satisfaction between the groups (mean 1.47, SD 0.516 vs mean 1.32, SD 0.557; P=.31). Further analysis indicated that telemedicine can be applied to broader groups of patients and that patients who have prior experience with telemedicine are more willing to use telemedicine for follow-up care. Telemedicine can be an alternative and efficient form of follow-up care for patients in orthopedic and trauma surgery in Germany, and it has no significant disadvantages compared with in-person consultations in the clinic. German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00023445; https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00023445.

Social prescribing is growing rapidly globally as a way to tackle social determinants of health. However, whom it is reaching and how effectively it is being implemented remains unclear. To gain a comprehensive picture of social prescribing in the UK, from referral routes, reasons, to contacts with link workers and prescribed interventions. This study undertook the first analyses of a large database of administrative data from over 160 000 individuals referred to social prescribing across the UK. Data were analysed using descriptive analyses and regression modelling, including logistic regression for binary outcomes and negative binomial regression for count variables. Mental health was the most common referral reason and mental health interventions were the most common interventions prescribed. Between 72% and 85% of social prescribing referrals were from medical routes (primary or secondary healthcare). Although these referrals demonstrated equality in reaching across sociodemographic groups, individuals from more deprived areas, younger adults, men, and ethnic minority groups were reached more equitably via non-medical routes (e.g. self-referral, school, charity). Despite 90% of referrals leading to contact with a link worker, only 38% resulted in any intervention being received. A shortage of provision of community activities - especially ones relevant to mental health, practical support and social relationships - was evident. There was also substantial heterogeneity in how social prescribing is implemented across UK nations. Mental health is the leading reason for social prescribing referrals, demonstrating its relevance to psychiatrists. But there are inequalities in referrals. Non-medical referral routes could play an important role in addressing inequality in accessing social prescribing and therefore should be prioritised. Additionally, more financial and infrastructural resource and strategic planning are needed to address low intervention rates. Further investment into large-scale data platforms and staff training are needed to continue monitoring the development and distribution of social prescribing.

Primary care physicians' (PCP) referral rates to digital health programs are highly variable. This study explores whether knowledge of the digital remote blood pressure monitoring (RBPM) program and information on referral patterns influence PCPs' intention to refer patients. This study aims to examine the relationship between PCPs' knowledge of the digital RBPM program and information on their own prior referral rates versus their own with their peers' referral rates and their likelihood to refer patients to the digital RBPM program. This is a mixed methods study integrating quantitative analysis of electronic health record data regarding the frequency of PCPs' referrals of patients with hypertension to a digital health program and quantitative and qualitative analyses of survey data about PCPs' knowledge of the program and their intention to refer patients. PCPs responded to a clinical vignette featuring an eligible patient. They were randomized to either receive their own referral rate or their own plus their peers' referral rate. They were assessed on their intent to refer eligible future patients. Descriptive and multivariable linear regression analyses examined participant characteristics and the factors associated with their intent to refer patients. Narrative reasons for their intention to refer were thematically analyzed. Of the 242 eligible PCPs invited to participate, 31% (n=70) responded to the survey. From electronic health record data, the mean referral rate of patients per PCP was 11.80% (SD 13.30%). The mean self-reported knowledge of the digital health program was 6.47 (SD 1.81). The mean likelihood of referring an eligible patient (on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being not at all, and 10 being definitely) based on a vignette was 8.54 (SD 2.12). The own referral data group's mean likelihood to refer was 8.91 (SD 1.28), whereas the own plus peer prior referral data group was 8.35 (SD 2.19). Regression analyses suggested the intention to refer the vignette patient was significantly associated with their knowledge (coefficient 0.46, 95% CI 0.20-0.73; P<.001), whereas the intention to refer future patients was significantly associated with their intent to refer the patient in the vignette (coefficient 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.78; P<.001). No evidence of association was found on receiving own plus peer referral data compared with own referral data and intent to refer future patients (coefficient 0.23, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.89; P=.48). Physicians' intention to refer patients to a novel digital health program can be extrapolated by examining their intention to refer an eligible patient portrayed in a vignette, which was found to be significantly influenced by their knowledge of the program. Future efforts should engage PCPs to better inform them so that more patients can benefit from the digital health program.

Background Considering the challenges of the referral system in the family physician program and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the relevant ministry’s programs, it is necessary to assess the performance of the referral system. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the performance of the family physician referral system before and during COVID-19 in Golestan province. Methods The present repeated cross-sectional study was conducted on secondary data Recorded of 786,603 cases referred and cared by family physicians (including information on physicians’ and midwives’ visits, percentage of prescriptions and other information) in Golestan province from 2017 to 2022 in a census and retrospective manner. Data were collected using the reference ratio checklist and analyzed with SPSS 23 software at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results Referral to 10 types of medical specialties and 10 indicators of family physicians referral before and during COVID-19 were investigated. The highest and lowest percentages of referrals by family physicians were belonged to the surgical (17.6%) and infectious (2%) specialists before COVID-19, and internal medicine (15.07%) and urology (3%) specialists during COVID-19, respectively. Referral due to physician’s diagnosis increased by 19.3% compared to before Covid-19, target group increased by 0.86%, care decreased by 2.69% and reverse referral decreased by 36.1%. The amount of population covered by rural insurance, the amount of visits to midwives, the percentage of electronic appointments in the post-Covid-19 years have changed significantly compared to before.it (P-Value < 0.05). Conclusion The present study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on family physician referral indicators, such as the process of referral to specialists, drug prescriptions, insurance coverage, one-time service population, and patient care, which can be used to eliminate the weaknesses and Strengthening the strengths of the programs being implemented in the face of possible pandemics is very useful and effective and can be used in the country. Finally, the results obtained from this research provide evidence to discuss the importance of the family physicians care and referral system in the face of special conditions for quality control in health policies.