Authors (including presenting author) :
Wang HL, Cheung MH, Kwong SK, Ko WK
Affiliation :
Family Medicine & Primary Healthcare, HKWC
Introduction :
Medical triage clinic (MEGT) had been established in our department (FM&PHC, HKWC) for many years. It could help to triage around 600 new cases per year. Due to increasing demands and limited services, the waiting time is around 100 weeks. Enhanced medical triage services was introduced since July 2023.
Objectives :
To shorten waiting time of specialist outpatient clinics (SOPCs)
Methodology :
Referral to Queen Mary Hospital Department of Medicine will be screened by a medical specialist. Patients with relatively mild and stable condition will book to Family Medicine medical triage clinic (MEG2). One Family Medicine specialist (manpower equivalent) and one designated Family Medicine nurse will provide comprehensive medical assessment, consultation, treatment and follow-up. If a patient's condition required specialist care, he will be referred to SOPD appropriately. After 3 to 4 times visits, patients will be discharged to General Out-Patient Clinic (GOPC), Family Medicine Specialist Clinic (FMSC) or discharged without follow-up.
Result & Outcome :
From July 2023 to December 2023, there were 1184 new cases booked to enhanced FMSC medical triage clinic (MEG2). 1069 patients received comprehensive clinical assessment, consultation, treatment and follow-up by a Family Medicine specialist. Total 654 patients had been discharged. Amount discharged patients, 47.9% (309) patients’ problems had been settled and no further follow-up was required. 30.7% (198) were discharged to FMSC, 14% (90) were discharged to GOPC. Only 7.4% (48) cases need SOPD referral/care.
