TY  - JOUR
AU  - Fernández-Méndez, Rocío
AU  - Wong, Mei Yin
AU  - Rastall, Rebecca J
AU  - Rebollo-Díaz, Samuel
AU  - Oberg, Ingela
AU  - Price, Stephen J
AU  - Joannides, Alexis J
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/3/5
TI  - Improvement of the Efficiency and Completeness of Neuro-Oncology Patient Referrals to a Tertiary Center Through the Implementation of an Electronic Referral System: Retrospective Cohort Study
JO  - J Med Internet Res
SP  - e15002
VL  - 22
IS  - 3
KW  - quality improvement
KW  - electronic health records
KW  - hospital referral
KW  - hospital oncology services
AB  - Background: Quality referrals to specialist care are key for prompt, optimal decisions about the management of patients with brain tumors. Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of introducing a Web-based, electronic referral (eReferral) system to a specialized neuro-oncology center, using a service-developed proforma, in terms of waiting times and information completeness. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study based on the review of medical records of referred adult patients, excluding follow-ups. Primary outcome measures were durations of three key phases within the referral pathway and completion rates of six referral fields. Results: A total of 248 patients were referred to the specialist center during the study period. Median (IQR) diagnostic imaging to referral intervals were 3 (1-5) days with eReferrals, and 9 (4-19), 19 (14-49), and 8 (4-23) days with paper proforma, paper letter, and internal referrals, respectively (P<.001). Median (IQR) referral to multidisciplinary team decision intervals were 3 (2-7), 2 (1-3), 8 (2-24), and 3 (2-6) days respectively (P=.01). For patients having surgery, median (IQR) diagnostic imaging to surgery intervals were 28 (21-41), 34 (27-51), 104 (69-143), and 32 (15-89) days, respectively (P<.001). Proportions of complete fields differed significantly by referral type in all study fields (all with Ps <.001) except for details of presentation, which were present in all referrals. All study fields were always present in eReferrals, as these are compulsory for referral submission. Depending on the data field, level of completeness in the remaining referral types ranged within 69% (65/94) to 87% (82/94), 15% (3/20) to 65% (13/20), and 22% (8/41) to 63% (26/41) in paper proforma, paper letter, and internal referrals, respectively. Conclusions: An electronic, Web-based, service-developed specific proforma for neuro-oncology referrals performs significantly better, with shorter waiting times and greater completeness of information than other referral types. A wider application of eReferrals is an important first step to streamlining specialist care pathways and providing excellent care. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/10.2196/15002 
SN  - 1438-8871
UR  - https://www.jmir.org/2020/3/e15002
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/15002
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32134389
DO  - 10.2196/15002
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/15002
ER  -