Objective: Various rheumatological conditions can present with different degrees of severity at any point in their course. It is extremely important for such patients to be monitored regularly and to feel reassured that they are able to access the specialist services for flare ups and concerns. The aim of this project was to evaluate the outcome of the Rapid Access and Treatment Service for Rheumatology patients in our institution, over a period of 1 month. Method: We studied the patient records for all patients who were seen in the Rapid Access and Treatment Service in the Rheumatology Department, in the month of January. The referral process and the management offered at the clinic were reviewed. Re-attendances were also recorded. Results: 51 patients were seen over 18 days in the month of January. 11 New patients with 40 follow up/ known rheumatological diagnosis patients were reviewed. 1 patient needed admission into the hospital, while 8 needed IM Depo injections. 3 needed IV Methyl prednisolone infusions and the remaining needed either their steroid dose reviewing or other procedures. Conclusion: The efficacy of this service was proven with patient satisfaction and reduction in hospital admission rates. This system works very well in our Department and establishing such a system throughout the NHS, might enhance patient care, reduce worsening of flare ups, thus reducing hospital admissions and allow patients to experience a personalised specialty service. Key messages: 1. Reduced hospital admission rates due to prompt treatment of acute rheumatological problems. 2. Improved patient satisfaction and reduction in worsening of flare ups. 3. Improved doctor – patient relationship with effective holistic care.
| Published in | Science Journal of Clinical Medicine (Volume 1, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11 |
| Page(s) | 1-3 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2012. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Rheumatology, Rapid access, Treatment
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| [2] | A.V. Pace et al, ‘Self-referral of symptoms(SOS)follow-up system of appointments for patients with uncertain diagnoses in rheumatology out-patients’, Rheumatology 2006; 45: 201-203. |
| [3] | Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sign Publication No 48, Dec 2000. |
| [4] | Osteoarthritis, The care and Management of osteoarthritis in adults, NICE Guidelines, Feb 2008. |
| [5] | Rheumatoid arthritis, National clinical guideline for man-agement and treatment in adults, NICE Guidelines, Jan 2011. |
| [6] | Services for people with rheumatoid arthritis - Economic models of identification and treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis, National Audit Office, David Xu et al, 2008 – 2009.. |
APA Style
Deepa Iyer, Richard Hull. (2012). Rheumatology Rapid Access and Treatment Service – Improving Patient Care Holistically. Science Journal of Clinical Medicine, 1(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11
ACS Style
Deepa Iyer; Richard Hull. Rheumatology Rapid Access and Treatment Service – Improving Patient Care Holistically. Sci. J. Clin. Med. 2012, 1(1), 1-3. doi: 10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11
AMA Style
Deepa Iyer, Richard Hull. Rheumatology Rapid Access and Treatment Service – Improving Patient Care Holistically. Sci J Clin Med. 2012;1(1):1-3. doi: 10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11,
author = {Deepa Iyer and Richard Hull},
title = {Rheumatology Rapid Access and Treatment Service – Improving Patient Care Holistically},
journal = {Science Journal of Clinical Medicine},
volume = {1},
number = {1},
pages = {1-3},
doi = {10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjcm.20120101.11},
abstract = {Objective: Various rheumatological conditions can present with different degrees of severity at any point in their course. It is extremely important for such patients to be monitored regularly and to feel reassured that they are able to access the specialist services for flare ups and concerns. The aim of this project was to evaluate the outcome of the Rapid Access and Treatment Service for Rheumatology patients in our institution, over a period of 1 month. Method: We studied the patient records for all patients who were seen in the Rapid Access and Treatment Service in the Rheumatology Department, in the month of January. The referral process and the management offered at the clinic were reviewed. Re-attendances were also recorded. Results: 51 patients were seen over 18 days in the month of January. 11 New patients with 40 follow up/ known rheumatological diagnosis patients were reviewed. 1 patient needed admission into the hospital, while 8 needed IM Depo injections. 3 needed IV Methyl prednisolone infusions and the remaining needed either their steroid dose reviewing or other procedures. Conclusion: The efficacy of this service was proven with patient satisfaction and reduction in hospital admission rates. This system works very well in our Department and establishing such a system throughout the NHS, might enhance patient care, reduce worsening of flare ups, thus reducing hospital admissions and allow patients to experience a personalised specialty service. Key messages: 1. Reduced hospital admission rates due to prompt treatment of acute rheumatological problems. 2. Improved patient satisfaction and reduction in worsening of flare ups. 3. Improved doctor – patient relationship with effective holistic care.},
year = {2012}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Rheumatology Rapid Access and Treatment Service – Improving Patient Care Holistically AU - Deepa Iyer AU - Richard Hull Y1 - 2012/12/30 PY - 2012 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11 DO - 10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11 T2 - Science Journal of Clinical Medicine JF - Science Journal of Clinical Medicine JO - Science Journal of Clinical Medicine SP - 1 EP - 3 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2327-2732 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjcm.20120101.11 AB - Objective: Various rheumatological conditions can present with different degrees of severity at any point in their course. It is extremely important for such patients to be monitored regularly and to feel reassured that they are able to access the specialist services for flare ups and concerns. The aim of this project was to evaluate the outcome of the Rapid Access and Treatment Service for Rheumatology patients in our institution, over a period of 1 month. Method: We studied the patient records for all patients who were seen in the Rapid Access and Treatment Service in the Rheumatology Department, in the month of January. The referral process and the management offered at the clinic were reviewed. Re-attendances were also recorded. Results: 51 patients were seen over 18 days in the month of January. 11 New patients with 40 follow up/ known rheumatological diagnosis patients were reviewed. 1 patient needed admission into the hospital, while 8 needed IM Depo injections. 3 needed IV Methyl prednisolone infusions and the remaining needed either their steroid dose reviewing or other procedures. Conclusion: The efficacy of this service was proven with patient satisfaction and reduction in hospital admission rates. This system works very well in our Department and establishing such a system throughout the NHS, might enhance patient care, reduce worsening of flare ups, thus reducing hospital admissions and allow patients to experience a personalised specialty service. Key messages: 1. Reduced hospital admission rates due to prompt treatment of acute rheumatological problems. 2. Improved patient satisfaction and reduction in worsening of flare ups. 3. Improved doctor – patient relationship with effective holistic care. VL - 1 IS - 1 ER -
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