Open access follow up can work in chronic bowel disease

The shared care of patients with chronic disease can be costly in both time and resources. Reviewing patients only when they are unwell is one way of reducing the demands on secondary care. Williams et al (p 544) conducted a randomised trial of routine and open access follow up of patients with quiescent or mild but stable inflammatory bowel disease. Open access significantly reduced day and outpatient visits compared with routinely booked appointments, with a saving of about 0.25 visits per patient per year, and was preferred by patients and general practitioners.


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Relevant Article

Open access follow up for inflammatory bowel disease: pragmatic randomised trial and cost effectiveness study
J G Williams, W Y Cheung, I T Russell, D R Cohen, M Longo, and B Lervy
BMJ 2000 320: 544-548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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