Accessible Allergy Care Improves Patient Oriented Outcomes
Dr Chris McCue, VMO, Canberra Allergy, Canberra, Australia
Authors List
McCue, C, Tarrant, S, Makeham, T., Canberra ENT and Canberra Allergy, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Introduction: Comorbid allergic disorders are often difficult to manage in the context of a traditional ENT practice as they require referral on for time consuming medical management and significantly impact patients’ quality of life. We hypothesised that co-located multidisciplinary management might reduce barriers to care and improve patients’ experience.
Aims: We aimed to improve patients’ experience and preserve therapeutic momentum by offering in-house allergy care to patients in a geographic locale with high rates of chronic rhinitis due to mixed allergic (primarily pollen & dust) and non-allergic (primarily due to seasonal changes in temperature and humidity) factors.
Methods: The authors agreed to collaboratively offer medical allergy care via a visiting model, using a GP-allergist led service with nearby primary premises to provide onsite care for referred patients in the otolaryngology clinic to extend the availability of services across disciplines. Patients were surveyed before and after the intervention to determine their satisfaction with the service and perceptions of their condition. This process was then replicated with the addition of a second clinic in a more distant regional community.
Results: 341 patients surveyed over 3 years who’d been seen by both CENT and CA, 79% had primary allergic disorders and were offered ITx, 83% of those who took it up reported enough benefit that they wished to continue treatment at 12 months.
There was noticeable improvement in the quality of the patient experience, with most patients reporting they appreciated the ease of access of co-located services and a very high proportion of patients who took up the option of immunotherapy reporting clinical benefits. These efficiencies and their positive impact on patient outcomes were noted both by medical and surgical practitioners as well as by the patient population.
Conclusions: Co-locating allergy clinics with existing high quality ENT practices enabled both clinical groups to offer their most valuable care and improved patient experience by increasing access to services in two regional sites. Key factors were clinician independence and shared learning – which improved outcomes for patients managed by either service as well as those managed collaboratively.
McCue, C, Tarrant, S, Makeham, T., Canberra ENT and Canberra Allergy, Canberra, ACT, Australia
Introduction: Comorbid allergic disorders are often difficult to manage in the context of a traditional ENT practice as they require referral on for time consuming medical management and significantly impact patients’ quality of life. We hypothesised that co-located multidisciplinary management might reduce barriers to care and improve patients’ experience.
Aims: We aimed to improve patients’ experience and preserve therapeutic momentum by offering in-house allergy care to patients in a geographic locale with high rates of chronic rhinitis due to mixed allergic (primarily pollen & dust) and non-allergic (primarily due to seasonal changes in temperature and humidity) factors.
Methods: The authors agreed to collaboratively offer medical allergy care via a visiting model, using a GP-allergist led service with nearby primary premises to provide onsite care for referred patients in the otolaryngology clinic to extend the availability of services across disciplines. Patients were surveyed before and after the intervention to determine their satisfaction with the service and perceptions of their condition. This process was then replicated with the addition of a second clinic in a more distant regional community.
Results: 341 patients surveyed over 3 years who’d been seen by both CENT and CA, 79% had primary allergic disorders and were offered ITx, 83% of those who took it up reported enough benefit that they wished to continue treatment at 12 months.
There was noticeable improvement in the quality of the patient experience, with most patients reporting they appreciated the ease of access of co-located services and a very high proportion of patients who took up the option of immunotherapy reporting clinical benefits. These efficiencies and their positive impact on patient outcomes were noted both by medical and surgical practitioners as well as by the patient population.
Conclusions: Co-locating allergy clinics with existing high quality ENT practices enabled both clinical groups to offer their most valuable care and improved patient experience by increasing access to services in two regional sites. Key factors were clinician independence and shared learning – which improved outcomes for patients managed by either service as well as those managed collaboratively.
