Improving our kidney transplant workup referral process - Southmead Hospital Transplant First KQuIP Project
Dominic Taylor and Samuel Turner
We wanted to improve the process of referring patients for surgical transplant assessment. We found that existing paper-based referrals were taking a long time, with our audit finding that a paper referral took on average 11 days to cross our office!
We decided that we would start making the referrals electronically, using a method of e-referral to cut out the 11 day delay. To do this, we consulted with our team – asking the referrers how this could be done in a way that worked for them. The decision was made to use our existing electronic system.
Using an e-referral also allowed us to ask for specific information from referrers which might not have always been included in referral letters. We created a list of relevant questions for the referral, then asked some referrers to check the list for accuracy. We then converted the verified list into an e-referral form our electronic system.
What followed was a period of time where the e-referral was tested before going live with the new process.
Introducing the e-referral reduced the referral time from average of 11 days to 0, meaning workup could start sooner from people awaiting a transplant.
For more information, conact Samuel Turner: Samuel.Turner@nbt.nhs.uk
