scholarly journals Physician’s referral patterns in a non-academic multispecialty group

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Wang ◽  
Larry Kravitz
Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Rodi ◽  
Lucas Godoy Garraza ◽  
Christine Walrath ◽  
Robert L. Stephens ◽  
D. Susanne Condron ◽  
...  

Background: In order to better understand the posttraining suicide prevention behavior of gatekeeper trainees, the present article examines the referral and service receipt patterns among gatekeeper-identified youths. Methods: Data for this study were drawn from 26 Garrett Lee Smith grantees funded between October 2005 and October 2009 who submitted data about the number, characteristics, and service access of identified youths. Results: The demographic characteristics of identified youths are not related to referral type or receipt. Furthermore, referral setting does not seem to be predictive of the type of referral. Demographic as well as other (nonrisk) characteristics of the youths are not key variables in determining identification or service receipt. Limitations: These data are not necessarily representative of all youths identified by gatekeepers represented in the dataset. The prevalence of risk among all members of the communities from which these data are drawn is unknown. Furthermore, these data likely disproportionately represent gatekeepers associated with systems that effectively track gatekeepers and youths. Conclusions: Gatekeepers appear to be identifying youth across settings, and those youths are being referred for services without regard for race and gender or the settings in which they are identified. Furthermore, youths that may be at highest risk may be more likely to receive those services.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1813.1-1813
Author(s):  
B. Lamoreaux ◽  
M. Francis-Sedlak ◽  
R. Holt ◽  
J. Rosenbaum

Background:Autoimmune inflammatory conditions of the eye may be associated with rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and granulomatosis with polyangiitis. This is also observed with thyroid eye disease (TED). Loss of immune tolerance to the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor has thyroidal consequences and nearly 40% of patients with Graves’ disease also have clinically evident Graves’ orbitopathy or TED.1TED results from tissue inflammation that causes retro orbital fat expansion2and extraocular muscle enlargement2and stiffening.3Because the orbital cavity is bony and of limited volume, proptosis and, in severe cases, optic nerve compression, can result. In many patients, muscle changes also cause ocular motility issues and double-vision. Because TED can have a similar presentation to other inflammatory orbital diseases (e.g., granulomatosis with polyangiitis) and Graves’ disease patients frequently have other autoimmune conditions (10% of Graves’s patients also have rheumatoid arthritis),4rheumatologists are likely to care for, or even diagnose, patients with TED.Objectives:This analysis sought to understand rheumatologists’ knowledge, and degree of participation in the treatment, of TED including referral patterns from ophthalmologists and endocrinologists for infusion therapies.Methods:Rheumatologists practicing in the United States attended an educational session and agreed to complete a 12-item survey regarding TED awareness, referral patterns, and management.Results:Of the 47 rheumatologists surveyed, 45 (96%) were familiar with TED. Ten (21%) physicians reported managing patients with TED, but the majority of physicians (62%) reported that they co-managed other autoimmune diseases in patients who also had TED. Additionally, 98% and 64% of polled rheumatologists had received referrals from ophthalmologists and endocrinologists, respectively, for autoimmune disease management or infusion therapy. Ophthalmology referrals for intravenous (IV) medication administration were most frequently for biologics (82%), but some referrals were also made for corticosteroids (2%) or other medication (13%) infusions. Only 23% of rheumatologists had administered a biologic specifically for TED (rituximab: 17%, tocilizumab: 2%, other: 4%), but 89% expressed an interest in administering a TED-specific monoclonal antibody therapy, awaiting FDA approval.Conclusion:Nearly all surveyed rheumatologists were aware of the signs and symptoms of TED, although most did not actively manage or administer medication for TED. Given the high level of interest in infusing novel, TED-specific biologics, rheumatologists may become an integral part of TED patient management with the approval of a new biologic, teprotumumab, for thyroid eye disease.References:[1]Bartley GB, et al.Am J Ophthalmol1996;121:284-90.[2]Forbes G, et al.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol1986;7:651-656.[3]Simonsz HJ, et al.Strabismus1994;2:197-218.[4]Cardenas Roldan J, et al.Arthritis2012 2012;864907.Disclosure of Interests:Brian LaMoreaux Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, Megan Francis-Sedlak Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, Robert Holt Shareholder of: Horizon Therapeutics, Employee of: Horizon Therapeutics, James Rosenbaum Consultant of: AbbVie, Corvus, Eyevensys, Gilead, Novartis, Janssen, Roche, UCB Pharma; royalties from UpToDate


Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472110085
Author(s):  
Landis R. Walsh ◽  
Laura C. Nuzzi ◽  
Amir H. Taghinia ◽  
Brian I. Labow

Background Although pediatric hand fractures are common and generally have good outcomes, they remain a considerable source of anxiety for non–hand surgeons, who are less familiar with these injuries. We hypothesized that this anxiety may manifest as inefficiency in referral patterns. Methods The records of pediatric patients with isolated, closed hand fractures without concurrent trauma seen at our institution by a hand surgeon between January 2017 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results There were 454 patients included; 62.1% were men, and the mean age was 9.6 years at initial encounter. Most patients (89.6%) were treated nonoperatively and incurred few complications (0.5%). Roughly half of all cases (n = 262) initially presented to an outside provider. Of these, 24.0% (n = 64 of 262) were evaluated by 2+ providers before a hand surgeon. Most commonly, these patients were referred from an outside emergency department (ED) to our ED before hand surgeon evaluation (n = 45 of 64). Forty-seven patients required surgery; however, none were performed urgently. Although a greater proportion of 7- to 11-year-old patients saw 2+ providers prior to a hand surgeon ( P = .007), fewer required surgery ( P < .001). Conclusions Pediatric closed hand fractures are mainly treated nonoperatively and nonemergently with generally excellent outcomes. Our data suggest that many patients continue to be referred through the ED or multiple EDs/providers for treatment. These inefficient referral patterns demonstrate the need for better education for ED and primary care providers, as well as better communication between these providers and local pediatric hand surgeons. Advancements in these areas are likely to improve efficiency of care and decrease costs.


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