Newreferral systemtohelp localpatients

SECURING appointments for scans at Alliance Medical MRI Centre Drogheda is set to be fasttracked thanks to the introduction of a new electronic referral facility.

With referrals heretofore having relied on fax, post and telephone, leading to considerable time delays as well as human error, GPs and consultants will now be able to send their appointment request with the press of a button on a newly introduced system, even as patients sit in front of them.

This can lead to patients potentially receiving appointments on the same day as their consultation, eliminating delays of up to four days in the process.

The new system has been introduced through a partnership between Alliance Medical - operators of the Drogheda MRI unit and the country’s leading specialist in diagnostic scans - and Clanwilliam Health, the nation’s largest practice management provider for private consultants and GPs.

The system uses the HSE’s web-based messaging service, Healthlink, which provides for the secure transmission of clinical patient information, including referrals, between hospitals, health care agencies and GPs.

Commenting, Eimear O’Donnell, HR Manager at Alliance Medical, Ireland said: “This is a very significant development for people whose GPs and Consultants need to refer to Alliance Medical MRI Centre Drogheda as well as other Alliance Medical locations around the country. We provide the quickest access to diagnostic appointments for patients but historically, there has been a delay in the referral process because of the manual effort required for GPs to send a referral via fax, telephone or post.

“This partnership with Clanwilliam Health means that doctors can now refer their patients for scans electronically through Healthlink while the patient is sitting in front of them. That gives instant access to the system and will result in appointments being offered potentially on the same day they are sought, cutting out a lot of delays in the process. The results of the scans will also be transmitted back to the referring doctors electronically through this system, speeding up patient diagnosis.’

Emmet Gilhooley, Enterprise Account Manager at Clanwilliam Health, said they were delighted to see the service in Drogheda.

‘ This is an exciting step forward for not only Clanwilliam Health and Drogheda but also for patients across Louth and the North East and the overall healthcare ecosystem.”