[log in to unmask],Net writes:
>In a message dated 08/07/98 21:50:56 GMT, you write:
><< Being a devil's advocate here, shouldn't we be telling the patient
>that
>when
> expediting the appointment is not justified - 'no'.
MOre to the point, we should be telling everyone that their appointment
should be in real time without need to be expedited.
THis would remove the work involved for out patient clerks in telling a
stream of callers to call us, etc, and since waiting lists cause work
to take longer and cost more (a view now espoused by senior
governmental figures) it will free resources to redistribute.
Including a share for us.
However, as you say, there are some people to whom either we or the
specialists should be saying "no". One of the factors in referrals, or
in seeing people repeatedly until they are referred, is the feeling
that if they are not referred immediately they may be n a perilous
state when they reach the end of the 8 - 12 - 50 week waiting list for
an out patient appointment.
Remove that bow wave, and the work of unneeded referrals in case will
subside.
Encourage patients who feel they should be seen th eweek afte rbeing
referred to complain and agitate, but have them do so direct to where
the OPD appts are controlled, the hospital.
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