A study of referral patterns in Dept. of family medicine.

Ha, Sung Hun; Choi, Myo Kyung; Choi, Jae Dong; Kim, Jae Man; Cho, Choo Yon; Kim, Ju Ja; Nam, Taek Seung

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine 1991;12(9):12-17.
Published online September 1, 1991.

A study of referral patterns in Dept. of family medicine.

Sung Hun Ha, Myo Kyung Choi, Jae Dong Choi, Jae Man Kim, Choo Yon Cho, Ju Ja Kim, Taek Seung Nam

가정의학과 외래에서 타과로 의뢰된 환자 분석

하성훈, 최묘경, 최재동, 김재만, 조주연, 김주자, 남택승

순천향대학교의과대학 가정의학과

Abstract

The aim of this study is to acquire the priority in effective request and family residency training afterward by grasping trend of patient who is requested other departments by family physicians.
By survey and analysis of medical report of 17,032 patients who visited in Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital during 11 months, we found of the results as follows.

1. The monthly referral rates was the highest in Jul 1989.
2. Total of 2,343 referrals, composed of 1,363 women and 980 men were made to other Depts.
3. The referrals were distributed to internist frequently, followed by general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists and urologists.
4. 47.1% of the referrals were made for more diagnostic work-up and/or specific treatments.
5. By ICPC, digestives were the most frequently, followed by circulatories, neurologicals, psychologicals.
6. Among the reasons of referrals, proper diagnoses and treatements were the most frequent.
In conclusion, 54.8% of referral patients were included upper 5 case of ICPC. So, there were needed interest of family residencies and continuous efforts of family doctors.