A Same Day Neurophysiology Service

Patients referred by onsite specialists can have neurophysiology the same day at Musgrove Park

The run chart runs from 1st Jan 2012. Data is split at 17th April. The highest numbers of same day referrals seen occurred between 22nd 25th May. Bank holidays and weekends are included in the figures of both charts.

The run chart runs from the 1st Jan 2012. Data is split at 17th April. The highest percentage of same day referrals after project implementation occurred 22rd May and then at the end of June, just 2 patients were seen this day and both were same day referrals.

Overview of the Project

This project is designed primarily to improve the patient experience and was implemented specifically with the large, rural catchment area of the neurophysiology service in Somerset in mind. Patients seen by an onsite specialist who required diagnostic neurophysiology could be referred to the neurophysiology service directly from their outpatient clinic on the same day. This helps make the service more accessible to patients (especially those who travel long distances to attend hospital appointments), speeds up their referral to treatment pathway and also involves some small cost savings in the process.

2. Encouraging people to give it a go. Luckily the Neurophysiology Team at Musgrove are very committed and exceptional at the roles they do, for me as a leader it didnt take much in the way of leadership to encourage the team to take ownership of the project and look for ways to make it work.

Results
We increased percentage of patients seen the same day as their referral by implementation of this project from a mean of 4.631% (taken from the period from the 1st Jan 2012 16th April 2012) to a mean of 7.462% (taken from the 17th April 2012 30th June 2012). Whilst this was not the increase we hoped for we appreciate it is work in progress and change can take time. All patients who were seen the same day as referral felt it was of benefit to them. The next step is to share our experience within the healthcare science workforce.

Leadership Challenges
1. Changing culture: The project was a slow starter and is still currently gathering momentum, Keeping the profile of the project high so referrers remember the service is open to them has been tough, Do we inherently expect to have to queue?

Contact Information
Katy Ann Young Job Title (at time of fellowship): Deputy Service Lead (Neurophysiology) Katyyoung_1@hotmail.com 07912 688974