profession

Specialists often unseen even after referrals made

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 15, 2010

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Only 50% of referrals to specialists are completed, says a study of 6,785 Medicare patients in the February Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice (link).

Of more than 7,000 orders for patients to consult with specialists, 71% resulted in scheduled appointments, the study said. But even then, patients didn't show up 30% of the time.

Health information technology can help ease the appointment-scheduling process, the study said. But social factors outside physicians' control -- lack of transportation, for example -- also prevent patients from keeping specialist appointments.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/03/15/prbf0315.htm.

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