RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prudent healthcare in practice: integration of audiology services into primary care
JF BMJ Open Quality
JO BMJ Open Qual
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e001884
DO 10.1136/bmjoq-2022-001884
VO 11
IS 3
A1 Timothy Loescher
A1 Jack Allum
A1 Nicola Phillips
YR 2022
UL http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/11/3/e001884.abstract
AB Background Swansea Bay University Health Board (SB UHB) has been trialling a primary care audiology pathway since 2016. The pathway enables patients with hearing, tinnitus or wax problems to be triaged directly to the audiology department acting as the first point of contact, freeing up general practitioners, Ear, Nose and Throat consultants and nurses to see patients with more complex health conditions.Purpose To evaluate the efficiency of the SB UHB primary care audiology pathway.Particular focus Clinical outcomes of patients seen through the SB UHB primary care audiology pathway.Overview The vast majority of patients seen through the SB UHB primary care audiology pathway are managed without the need for onward referral (≥87%).