Korean J Ophthalmol.  2018 Jun;32(3):190-195. 10.3341/kjo.2017.0090.

Differences among Ophthalmology Patients Referred to Tertiary Medical Centers according to Referral Hospital

• Kim H
• Kim HK
• Rim TH
• Kim JW
• Kim JH
• Kim SS

• KMID: 2412797
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2017.0090

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to investigate the diagnosis and severity of patients who were referred to tertiary medical centers according to the type and function of the referral hospitals.
METHODS
First-visit patients referred from July 2015 to June 2016 were retrospectively reviewed with regard to referral hospital, final diagnosis, treatment necessity, and medical fees for the six months after their first hospital visit. Based on these data, differences in type and function of medical institution were examined.
RESULTS
In a comparison of hospitals according to their number of beds, clinics, hospitals and, tertiary hospitals had no differences in the ratio of patients who needed treatment (p = 0.075) and their medical fees over six months (p = 0.372). When hospitals were classified by functional capability in terms of doctors' medical specialty, increasing ratios of patients requiring medical treatment (p < 0.001) and medical fees for six months (p < 0.001) were found in the order of non-eye specialists, eye specialists, and eye specialists in trainee hospital.
CONCLUSIONS
Efficient healthcare delivery systems should classify medical institutions by functionality capability based on medical specialties rather than hospital size according to the number of beds.

Keyword

Delivery of health care; Ophthalmology; Tertiary care centers; Tertiary healthcare

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Diagnosis
Fees, Medical
Health Facility Size
Humans
Ophthalmology*
Referral and Consultation*
Retrospective Studies
Specialization
Tertiary Care Centers
Tertiary Healthcare

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Diagnosis of patients according to the classification by the functional capability in terms of doctors' medical specialties. (A) Not eye specialist, (B) eye specialist, and (C) eye specialist in trainee hospital. Panel A, B, and C show patient diagnoses according to the functional capability of hospitals. In many cases, patients referred from a non-eye specialist (A) were categorized as having no ocular abnormalities and their diagnoses were described just generally as healthcare.

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