The effectiveness of different patient referral systems to shorten waiting times for elective surgeries: systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long waiting times for elective surgery are common to many publicly funded health systems. Inefficiencies in referral systems in high-income countries are more pronounced than lower and middle-income countries. Primary care practitioners play a major role in determining which patients are referred to surgeon and might represent an opportunity to improve this situation. With conventional methods of referrals, surgery clinics are often overcrowded with non-surgical referrals and surgical patients experience longer waiting times as a consequence. Improving the quality of referral communications should lead to more timely access and better cost-effectiveness for elective surgical care. This review summarises the research evidence for effective interventions within the scope

SUBMITTER: Rathnayake D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7887721 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature