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Effect of National Criteria for Non-Emergency Healthcare Access on quality of referrals in respiratory medicine
Julkaistu 11.06.2010 00.01
Background
National uniform criteria for access to non-emergency treatment were published in 2005 in Finland. Our aim was to evaluate how these recommendations affected the quality of referrals for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnoea syndrome.
Materials and methods
Referrals to the Department of Pulmonary Diseases of the Turku University Central Hospital because of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnoea syndrome or suspicion of these diseases during January and February of the years 2005 and 2006 were reviewed (n = 571). We assessed whether the referrals contained the information required according to the uniform criteria for access to non-emergency treatment.
Results
The quality of referrals did not improve over the one-year period after publishing the recommendations. Depending on the diagnosis, information on occupation was lacking in 40–55% of referrals. Smoking history was not mentioned in 15–70% of referrals. Body mass index was lacking in half of the sleep apnoea referrals.
Conclusions
The uniform criteria for access to non-emergency treatment did not influence the quality of referrals. The criteria for access to non-emergency treatment are still not widely used. The quality of referrals would improve simply by following these recommendations.
Tarja Saaresranta M.D., Ph.D. Turku University Central Hospital Department of Pulmonary Diseases e-mail: tarja.saaresranta@tyks.fi
Mervi Heino Maarit Leinonen
Finnish Medical Journal 2010;65:2106–10
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