RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 PO-0033 Referrals For Echocardiograms In A District General Hospital – Are We On The Pulse?
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP A261
OP A261
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2014-307384.710
VO 99
IS Suppl 2
A1 KL Kok
A1 K Sandhu
YR 2014
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/99/Suppl_2/A261.2.abstract
AB Background and aims Echocardiograms are a major resource for diagnosing congenital and acquired heart disease. Paediatricians with special expertise in Paediatric Cardiology are now at the forefront of the paediatric cardiac care service. The aim of this audit was to report on the quality of referrals – investigating the indications for referral, documentation of symptoms and signs. Methods The medical notes of 46 children who attended outpatient echocardiogram clinic were retrospectively reviewed (April to June 2012). We looked at indications for referral, documentation of symptoms and signs in the initial referral letters. Results 41 out of 46 children attended the clinics, of which 39 sets of notes were available to be reviewed. 22 were new and 17 were follow-ups. The main indications for referral were presence of murmur, family history, congenital heart disease, syndromes and Kawasaki Disease. 16 children were referred because of murmur, 12 of whom were asymptomatic. Half did not comment on grade, position or radiation of the murmur. One-third did not have documentation of femoral pulses, signs of heart failure (crackles on auscultation, hepatomegaly, oedema). Conclusions Indications for referral to echocardiogram clinic were appropriate. However, the quality of documentation of basic examination findings was poor. This audit starts a discussion regarding setting the standard for quality of referrals to echocardiogram clinic, and highlights deficiencies in documentation. Recommendations include a standardised pro forma and an emphasis during general practice study days.