The value of patient-initiated follow up: insights from a highly specialised service

Abstract

Coping with increasing demand with limited capacity in a highly specialised service requires innovation. This review explores the impact of patient-initiated follow up, arguing that the introduction of this model has been highly effective in the management of patients with Behҫet's syndrome, a lifelong relapsing and remitting auto-inflammatory disease, at one national centre in the UK. Allowing patients to self-direct their care through patient-initiated follow up has resulted in an engaged and empowered cohort that values clinical review when required. Access to rapid in-person assessment when needed was found to be highly appreciated by patients at the centre, while also facilitating prompt recognition and management of flare ups, which reduced the incidence of life-changing or life-threatening events. The author believes that patient-initiated follow up could be embedded into any specialised service, releasing appointment slots so that new patient referrals or safety reviews can be expedited.