In my clinical system (EmisWEB) I try and mailmerge as much as possible and ignore what I can't. I once recieved I think 5 seperate and distinct referral forms for hand surgery. I think I might have filed them somewhere.
My particular bugbear is that the "referral forms" are regularly tweaked so even if I make the effort to mailmerge them for their convenience they soon become obselete as far as 2y care is concerned, and they demand we use the "new form".
Increasingly I just write a letter… (which gets shorter as time passess)
Tim
On 20 May 2013, at 20:17, Russell Brown <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> There is some interesting work going on in my CCG. Given the desire to
> encourage the use of pathways and forms, the CCG is trying to come up
> with a set of principles that service providers must adhere to before
> the pathway involving that service provider gets approved.
>
> Part of this is a minimum data set, mostly demographic information.
> However, the intention is to build in a piloting structure with any
> forms being designed for use with all the local clinical system before
> practices area asked to use them.
>
> Hopefully, all practices will have to do is what they do now: dictate
> a letter. The difference, if it all works, is simply that the admin
> team will type the letter into the required form, which is
> automagically populated with as much of the required info as possible.
>
> They are also looking at a system I think called DXS to make it easy
> for practices to use the form, indeed hopefully easier than NOT using
> it.
>
> I am contributing to discussions and am watching with interest. I have
> frequently pointed out that a referral is valid if it is written on
> the side of a cow provided it contains the information relevant to the
> problem at hand. I have also been quick to try and ensure that
> referrals are not returned if on the "wrong form".
>
> Russell
>
> Sent from a device of some kind
>
> On 20 May 2013, at 20:08, Stephen Meech <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> I agree with this. There is a plethora of forms mostly designed to save
>> the recipients from doing the work themselves. There is nothing in our
>> Terms of Service which says we need to use any of them and the sheer
>> volume threatens patient safety as few are concise enough to be
>> completed during a standard consultation.
>>
>> I tend to take them as guidance, when I can remember they exist, and
>> send a traditional letter in which I endeavour to include the
>> information helpful to the recipient. If they insist in a form it gets
>> completed "see attached letter and summary". A few are helpful and if
>> needed frequently we make them compatible with our clinical system for
>> completion of demographic details at least.
>>
>> If the receiving organisation threatened to ignore my letter then I make
>> it clear that is THEIR (individual or corporate) responsibility - I have
>> discharged MY obligation.
>>
>> Through my LMC and as an individual practice we try to ensure that
>> templates are kept to a minimum and are as helpful as possible to us and
>> the patients.
>>
>> On 20/05/2013 07:38, Mary Hawking wrote:
>>> Shortly before I retired, there were changes in referrals to SS and HVs
>>> – without any consultation.
>>>
>>> SS demanded a form 10 pages long including such details as how many
>>> people were needed to help with transfers, could person feed themselves,
>>> toileting requirements etc. When my referral was refused because I
>>> hadn’t filled it in, I had one of these full and frank discussions (“all
>>> of the other GPs are doing it”: AFAIAA that was untrue) and it ended
>>> with the person at the other end saying that the patient could refer
>>> themselves – which this individual was happy to do.
>>>
>>> My partner tells me that, just after I had retired, he was presented
>>> with the same form – and told that if he didn’t fill it in, the referral
>>> would not be accepted. And no option of self-referral (makes you want a
>>> list of who is allowed to refer to SS – and raises the question of what
>>> happens to people in need who are not in contact with other agencies..)
>>>
>>> I believe it has gone to the LMC – but what price any future for joined
>>> up working?
>>>
>>> In some ways the HV situation is even worse.
>>>
>>> GPs are no longer allowed to have a word with the HV about concerns over
>>> a child or parent – even along the lines of ‘just needs a bit of extra
>>> support’.
>>>
>>> In this brave new world of joined up care, the GP needs to fill in a
>>> form which will go to the 0-18 team where a decission will be made on
>>> who is best suited to deal with the problem.
>>>
>>> It’s just as bad for the midwives: there is a new computer system at the
>>> local Trust, which requires a lot more information **at referral** - so
>>> new form.
>>>
>>> For the last two, there doesn’t appear to have been any effort to
>>> consult with the GPs: the information was given by the attached
>>> HV/midwife at a routine primary health care team meeting.
>>>
>>> Is this happening everywhere, or is this a local Bedfordshire problem?
>>
>>> *From:*GP-UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Saul Galloway
>>> *Sent:* 18 May 2013 20:34
>>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>>> *Subject:* health needs assessment on pt at request sservs
>>>
>>> What exactly is it ( I gather a bloody big form) and is it in my TOS to
>>> do one?
>>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Stephen
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