Elloy Marianne, Jarvis Sara, Davis Anne
Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2009 Jan;91(1):74-6. doi: 10.1308/003588409X359042.
Rapid access to radiological services is essential, if the British Association of Otolaryngologists - Head and Neck Surgeons Minimum Temporal Standards are to be met in the management of head and neck cancer patients. This study assesses a new initiative whereby the multidisciplinary team prioritises allocated imaging appointments rather than using the traditional radiological triage system.
This study was a prospective audit of all patients referred over a 3-month period with suspected head and neck cancer. The main outcome measures were: (i) median interval in days from general practitioner (GP) referral to staging scan; and (ii) median interval in days from first clinic appointment to staging scan.
The new multidisciplinary team booking system led to a statistically significant reduction in the 'request-to-scan time' (from 12 days to 5 days). The time from 'GP to scan' also improved.
This new multidisciplinary team-led booking system, could, in the future, speed up access to radiology services for head and neck cancer patients, allowing earlier definitive treatment.
如果要在头颈部癌症患者的管理中达到英国耳鼻喉科医师 - 头颈外科医师协会的最低时间标准，快速获得放射科服务至关重要。本研究评估了一项新举措，即多学科团队对分配的影像检查预约进行优先级排序，而不是使用传统的放射科分诊系统。
本研究是对在3个月期间转诊的所有疑似头颈部癌症患者进行的前瞻性审计。主要结局指标为：（i）从全科医生（GP）转诊到分期扫描的天数中位数；以及（ii）从首次门诊预约到分期扫描的天数中位数。
新的多学科团队预约系统使“申请到扫描时间”有统计学意义的缩短（从12天缩短至5天）。“从GP到扫描”的时间也有所改善。
这种新的由多学科团队主导的预约系统未来可能会加快头颈部癌症患者获得放射科服务的速度，从而实现更早的确定性治疗。
