Queensland Health has invited GPpartners to manage a project that will help reduce waiting times in hospital outpatient departments.

The aims of the Specialist Outpatient Department Project are to: 

• improve the quality and appropriateness of referrals both into and out of specialist outpatient departments 
• reduce waiting time for appointments 
• increase transfer of patients from outpatient clinics to primary care for ongoing care.

General practitioners will be employed in selected ‘trial’ outpatient departments to work with medical and administrative staff to improve referral processes for general practice and will be assisted by Specialists to improve their clinical and management knowledge.

These Outpatient General Practitioners will also be involved in education and other strategies that will be developed to support GPs who provide ongoing care for patients discharged from the clinics.

Ophthalmology and Urology at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and sections of the Surgical and Medical Paediatrics at the Royal Children’s Hospital will participate in the trial.

The Specialist Outpatient Department Project is funded by Queensland Health and will be managed by GPpartners with assistance from Queensland Health, members of GPpartners and the University of Queensland.

Phases of project

Commencement – November 2008

• Set up of governance structure to include Steering Committee, Operational Working Group and a GP Advisory Group. 
• Appointment of GPpartners Project Manager. 
• Recruitment strategy for Outpatient General Practitioner role. 
• Outpatient General Practitioner position statement developed to clearly outline the role.

Intervention – July 2009 

• Outpatient General Practitioners will attend nominated sessions in chosen area working with outpatient department staff to refine the model by reviewing quality and appropriateness of referrals into and out of the specialist clinics and develop strategies for General Practitioners. 
• Qualitative data collected through surveys and audits during and an interim report produced at six months with view to sustainability and transferability post end of intervention phase.

Finalisation – June to December 2010 

• Outpatient General Practitioners complete agreed learning plan. 
• University of Queensland in conjunction with GPpartners produce final evaluation report with recommendations and sustainability.

Extended Program 

• This will be considered by the Steering Committee based on the presented evidence.

Staff Participation 

• Queensland Health, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s’ Hospital and the Royal Children’s’ Hospital Executive and Departmental heads have given agreeance for their departments to participate in this project.
• Staff working within the nominated clinics may participate in an evaluation of the project through interviews and/or written surveys on a voluntary basis.

For more information about the project contact Helen Hoare.

Last updated: 3 June 2009