Abstract
Waiting for a Consultation: Sorry, But the Doctor Cannot See You
Highlights
Canadians are proud of their health care system
What happens after a referral is declined or the fax machine is turned off? In the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, de Boer et al (8) tracked the outcome of patients who were referred to their university division’s central triage in Edmonton (Alberta) but were not accepted because their limited resources precluded a timely evaluation
What is the ‘natural’ history of the other one-half (120 of 230) who were not captured by the imaging or pathology data base? One is left wondering what would have transpired had there not been an alternative group of consultants who were not part of their academic division yet were available in their region
Summary
Canadians are proud of their health care system. A key quality measure is access, reputed to be universal, yet a major obstacle to obtaining care (1). What happens after a referral is declined or the fax machine is turned off? In the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology, de Boer et al (8) (pages 785-790) tracked the outcome of patients who were referred to their university division’s central triage in Edmonton (Alberta) but were not accepted because their limited resources (inadequate number of gastroenterologists and endoscopy slots) precluded a timely evaluation. In the 12 months following the original referral being declined, one-half (47.8% [110 of 230 patients]) were seen by a gastroenterologist or surgeon, as captured through the Edmonton region data base from electronic medical records, and diagnostic imaging and pathology reports.
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