The availability of an 'immediate-access' nuclear medicine service has facilitated the introduction of a 'one-stop' vascular clinic, enabling radioisotope limb blood flow and Doppler ankle:brachial index tests to be performed within 2 h of each other for new patient referrals. The test results are available to assist clinical management decisions during the same clinical session. A patient satisfaction survey was undertaken in 71 patients to assess their perspective of this service provision. Fifty-one (72%) patients returned the questionnaire.
All respondents preferred to have attended the 'one-stop' clinic to having to return for investigations on a separate occasion. The patient satisfaction survey has identified patient perceived advantages of improved diagnostic efficiency, reduced number of visits, reduced patient worry and the minimisation of patient travel costs. During the study period, 83% of allocated gamma-camera imaging slots were utilised, demonstrating that immediate-access nuclear medicine service provision linked to specific clinics can be a practicable solution to reducing waiting times for investigative tests.
This is believed to be the first reported immediate-access nuclear medicine service, as opposed to the emergency investigations normally offered to clinically urgent requests.
Mackie A, Hart GC, McPherson D, Vowden P, Vowden K. (1999) A 'one-stop' vascular clinic: Initial experience of an out-patient immediate access radioisotope limb blood flow service. Nuclear Medicine Communications, 20, 95-97.
Dr. Alison Mackie, Durham Unit, Durham. Tel: +44 (0)191-333-2219.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE, UK.
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