Referral letters and replies from orthopaedic departments: opportunities missed.

摘要: OBJECTIVE--To study delays between sending referral letters and the outpatient appointment to assess content of reply letters, their educational value, extent which questions asked are answered by letters. DESIGN--Retrospective review referrals 16 consultant orthopaedic surgeons at five hospitals, comprising 288 with corresponding replies, scoring contents SETTING--Orthopaedic teaching hospitals in Nottingham, Derby, Mansfield. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Weighted scores assessment responses RESULTS--Median delay was 23.4 weeks. There no significant decrease waiting time if letter marked "urgent" but a significantly greater (p less than 0.01) were directed an unnamed consultant. The score generally unsatisfactory for both there correlation its (r = 0.13). Items education rare (8/288; 3%) more common replies (75/288; 26%) much 0.001). Senior registrars likely attempt other writers 0.02). Education related increased length 0.05) occur addressed named 0.03). 48 (17%) Referral questions, 21 (44%) received reply. No factor found influence asking or replying questions. CONCLUSIONS--The potential useful communication from is being missed number levels. often poor, level mutual low, use determine urgency deficient. Most general practitioners not answered.