Health Policy Manag.  2022 Sep;32(3):323-329. 10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.3.323.

Analysis of Status and Success Factor of Referral and Return of Patients to Clinics: Focusing on Patients with Endocrinology and Cardiology at a General Hospital in Goyang

• Park HS
• Choi JK
• Tae ES
• Choi SG
• Kim EH

• KMID: 2534964
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4332/KJHPA.2022.32.3.323

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the referral and return of patients to clinics in the endocrinology and cardiology departments at the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital to evaluate the “referral and return of patients to clinics” program and reduce the rate of returning patients.
Methods
From May 2018 to December 2020, we identified the number of visits to referral hospitals and hospital usage status at Ilsan Hospital after returning to clinics. We also identified the patients who returned to Ilsan Hospital within 6 months, defined as “failure to transport,” among those recommended to be transported to clinics of the Medical Cooperation Center. Additionally, we evaluated the characteristics of the “failure to transport” patients.
Results
Among the returning patients, the rate of visiting Ilsan Hospital within 6 months was higher in cardiology than in endocrinology (25.1% vs. 16.7%). Older age, more severe disease, and more number of visits to the department were associated with a high rate of failure to transport. The rate of failure to return was low in cases diagnosed with hyperlipidemia/lipoprotein metabolism disorder. With respect to diabetes, the rate of failure to transport differed according to each type of diagnosis of diabetes.
Conclusion
The success rate of the “referral and return of patient to clinics” program differed based on each patient’s characteristics, department of visit, and diagnosis. Individualizing according to the visit department and diagnosis is required to ensure successful transfers, and infrastructure expansion and institutional arrangements must be facilitated.

Keyword

Patient referral system; Endocrinology; Cardiology; Revisit