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Analysis of The Ohio State University College of Optometry Clinical Referral Process

Motter, Asha A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406222877

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Vision Science.
Purpose: To analyze the effectiveness of the clinical referral process at The Ohio State University College of Optometry (OSUCO). This study should foster better understanding of factors that affect patient attendance at referral appointments as well as to identify clinical practices that will promote improved health care delivery. Method: Fifty records of patients referred from the College of Optometry to a specialist were identified and the data collected. In addition one hundred records were selected for the subsequent study. Subsequent study subjects were interviewed regarding patient’s perceptions of the effectiveness of the referral process. Calculations were performed to determine the probability of associations between each referral process and factors that may have had an effect on patient’s attendance at their referral appointment. Results: Pilot study results indicated it was feasible to obtain referral data from the OSUCO electronic health records and that further study could be considered. In addition the Pilot study did not reveal significant associations between referral processes and attendance at the referral appointment. Subsequent study results found that scheduling of the referral appointment increased with “Letter and Phone Call” referral communications. Caucasian patients were more likely to be referred using “Letter Only” referral communications when compared to other ethnicities. The Binocular Vision Clinic and Low Vision clinic were also more likely to use” Letter Only” referral communications when referring patients. Subsequent study results also found that patients who were referred with “Letter and Phone Call” referral communications had a statistically significant association with positive attendance at the referral appointment. Conclusions: The “Letter and Phone Call” referral communication method resulted in an increase in the patient attendance when compared to the “Letter Only” referral communication method. This difference, however, was not clinically meaningful because the 21.75% difference between the two methods did not meet the pre-set 50% threshold for a clinically meaningful difference. These results suggest that current OSUCO clinical practices are effective in ushering patients towards successful attendance of their referral appointments. It is quite possible that there are unstudied factors that may also affect successful attendance. Future investigations, can elaborate the hierarchy of those factors
Jacqueline Davis, OD, MPH (Advisor)
87 p.
Health Care; Health Care Management
Clinical Referral; Referral Communications; Referral Letters

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Motter, A. A. (2014). Analysis of The Ohio State University College of Optometry Clinical Referral Process [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406222877

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Motter, Asha. Analysis of The Ohio State University College of Optometry Clinical Referral Process. 2014. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406222877.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Motter, Asha. "Analysis of The Ohio State University College of Optometry Clinical Referral Process." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1406222877

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1406222877
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© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.