Urgent care in the community: an observational study

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Adie, John
Graham, Wayne
Bromfield, Kerron
Maiden, Bianca
Klaer, Sam
Wallis, Marianne
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2021
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Purpose: This case study describes a community-based urgent care clinic in a general practitioner (GP) super clinic in South East Queensland. Design/methodology/approach: This retrospective chart audit describes patient demographic characteristics, types of presentations and management for Sundays in 2015. Findings: The majority of patients (97%) did not require admission to hospital or office investigations (95%) and presented with one condition (94%). Of the presentations, 66.5% were represented by 30 conditions. Most patients received a prescription (57%), some were referred to the pathology laboratory (15%) and some were referred to radiology (12%). A majority (54%) of patients presented in the first three hours. Approximately half (51%) of patients presenting were aged under 25. More females (53%) presented than males. A majority (53%) lived in the same postcode as the clinic. The three most common office tests ordered were urinalysis, electrocardiogram (ECG) and urine pregnancy test. Some patients (19%) needed procedures, and only 3% were referred to hospital. Research limitations/implications: The study offers analysis of the client group that can be served by an urgent care clinic in a GP super clinic on a Sunday. The study provides an option for emergency department avoidance. Originality/value: Despite calls for more research into community-based urgent care clinics, little is known in Australia about what constitutes an urgent care clinic. The study proposes a classification system for walk-in presentations to an urgent care clinic, which is comparable to emergency department presentations.

Journal Title

Journal of Health Organization and Management

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note

This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advanced online version.

Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Biomedical and clinical sciences

Health services and systems

Public health

Commerce, management, tourism and services

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Health Policy & Services

Health Care Sciences & Services

Urgent care

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Adie, J; Graham, W; Bromfield, K; Maiden, B; Klaer, S; Wallis, M, Urgent care in the community: an observational study, Journal of Health Organization and Management, 2021

Collections