RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The inpatient neurology consultation service: value and cost
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 215
OP 217
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.11-3-215
VO 11
IS 3
A1 MR Douglas
A1 D Peake
A1 SG Sturman
A1 A Sivaguru
A1 CE Clarke
A1 DJ Nicholl
YR 2011
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/11/3/215.abstract
AB Neurological conditions comprise a significant proportion of patient admissions to hospital but, in the majority of cases, are admitted under the care of non-neurological physicians. As a consequence, neurological ward consultations are commonly requested by the admitting medical teams to review diagnoses and management plans. The outcomes of neurological ward consultations were examined and the time required for the referral process recorded by performing a detailed prospective three-month audit of inpatient referrals to the neurology service. The consultations of 120 patients were recorded, categorised and analysed. These consultations were beneficial in the vast majority of cases, with a clear impact on patient diagnoses or management plans. The consultation process was time consuming, however, both in respect of the initial review, but also with follow-up visits. This audit highlights the importance of neurological input in the diagnosis and management of hospital inpatients. The time taken for this process should be resourced appropriately.