Online Help - October 2007
Results of Clinic Audit
Victoria has been principal osteopath at East Barnwell for 15 months now and wanted to find out how the practice was performing. An audit of the new patients that have come to practice for the first time between 16th July 2006 and 15th July 2007 was carried out.
One hundred and three new patients presented at the clinic in that time. The main source of referrals (55%) was through personal recommendation from family friends and colleagues.
The second largest group of referrals was from the GP practice, mainly from doctors and also from enquiring at the front desk.
Other advertising such as Yellow Pages, local newspaper and internet sources tended to be secondary points of referral for example to check the address or phone number. The vast majority of presenting complaints were either back pain or symptoms associated with back problems such as pain in the thigh.
Neck pain was the second most common cause for complaint.
Patients tended to return for treatment to other areas, which may have been related to the present complaint without them realising
For example, shoulder pain is often associated with problems in the low back.
The audit also showed that the average number of treatments needed was four (including first consultation and treatment).
Of the patients who were discharged, two thirds were better and needed no further treatment, and the other third were mainly patients who were referred back to their GP or to other therapies eg massage or podiatry.
Of the patients who were not discharged, most are having ongoing treatment and the rest stopped treatment either because they felt better or because of personal reasons.
Patient feedback from these patients has been entirely positive, with most being happy to refer family and friends to the practice in future.
Two stopped for financial reasons.
As a result, we now offer concessions for those on low incomes and incapacity benefit, as well as reduced rates for pensioners and children.
In the future we hope to be able to offer subsidised treatments to patients of East Barnwell Health Centre.
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