3:30 PM Abstract No. 9 - The utility of modified thromboelastography with platelet mapping and functional fibrinogen to predict bleeding during catheter-directed thrombolysis: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: To describe experience with an outpatient interventional radiology (IR) vein practice with respect to internal referrals, external referrals, self-referrals, and downstream patient retention into the affiliated parent hospital system. Materials and Methods: An IRB-approved single institution retrospective review of outpatient visits at a newly established IR outpatient clinic was performed between June 2009 and December 2012. Demographic data, type of referral (obtained through a standard questionnaire during the intake process), prior contact with the affiliated parent hospital system and subsequent continuation of care within the hospital system were examined. Results: Between the establishment of this outpatient IR clinic in June 2009 and December 2012, there was a total of 2404 patient visits. Of these, 743 (30.9%) were new patient visits for the evaluation of venous disease. 634 (85.3%) of the new patients were female and 109 (14.7%) were male, with an average age of 53 years old. 248 (33.4%) new patient visits were from internal referrals affiliated with the clinic’s parent hospital system. 495 (66.6%) visits were from external referrals. This included outside practitioners (306 visits, 61.8%) who in part were reached through health fair expos, and patient selfreferrals (189, 38.2%) which were attributed to advertising/ marketing (144, 64.5%), friends (6, 3.2%), internet research (5, 2.6%), and “other” (34, 18%). 229 (46.3%) of the 495 externally referred patients had no prior contact with the affiliated parent hospital system (e.g., antecedent clinic visits, diagnostic testing, etc.). Of these, 50 (21.8%) went on to receive further medical care unrelated to their IR clinic visit in the parent hospital system. Conclusion: External referrals are essential to building a robust outpatient IR clinical practice. While some of these referrals are obtained from consumer marketing, out of network external physician referrers comprise the majority and are a key target in the referring community. Conversion and retention of these externally referred new IR patients generates positive downstream effects for the parent hospital system and may support the establishment of these clinics. Categorical Course Venous Occlusive Disease