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The impact of the introduction of a fast track clinic on ovarian cancer referral patterns
Author(s) -
MCNALLY O.M.,
WAREHAM V.,
FLEMMING D.J.,
CRUICKSHANK M.E.,
PARKIN D.E.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2354.2003.00419.x
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , fast track , specialty , ovarian cancer , gynaecological cancer , population , cancer , medical record , emergency medicine , gynecology , family medicine , surgery , environmental health
The aim of this study is to review the referral patterns for ovarian cancer in the Grampian region of Scotland and assess the impact of a ‘fast track’ clinic on the patient journey. Population‐based retrospective analysis of a gynaecological cancer database and patient case notes were used. After its inception, 13.5% of patients were referred through the fast track clinic and 83% were seen within 2 weeks. Thirty‐six per cent of patients were admitted as emergencies, mainly surgical or medical. The median general practitioner‐to‐specialist time was 3 days (range 0–188 days). The median time to diagnosis prior to the fast track clinic was 23 days and 17.5 days after its introduction ( P = 0.003). A population‐based ovarian cancer referral pattern is presented . Median waiting times are short but do influence time to diagnosis as do referral through a non‐cancer specialty and patient performance status. Rapid access through a gynae‐oncology clinic has some impact but is underused.