Tech enables national GPMRI service

eHealthNews.nz: Clinical Software

Monday, 18 July 2022

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NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth

Technologies enabling the new GPMRI service mean GPs can directly refer ACC patients for MRI scans, and referrals can be tracked through the system.

The service allows GPs who have received MRI training to directly refer patients for a scan if they have knee, lumbar, or upper spine injures.

Patients previously faced an average wait of 23 days to receive MRIs for some musculoskeletal injuries, which jumped to approximately 30 days in Auckland.

The roll out follows a pilot with ProCare and Mercy Radiology which begun in Auckland in 2017 and the wait time from referral to MRI is now down to 12.4 days.

Paul Roseman, ProCare’s general manager strategic development, says GPs in the upper North Island are using the inhouse built referral platform Profusion for the GPMRI programme. This is a webform tool, integrated with the major patient management systems.

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ProCare also set up a provider portal, which allows GPs to refer to a particular provider, and in some cases an API integration means the referral is placed directly into the provider’s radiology booking system.

Roseman says this means GPs can discuss with the patient where they would prefer to go for their MRI, reducing did not attend rates by ensuring it’s the most convenient location for them. It also enables outbound calling to patients from the radiology provider to encourage appointments to be made.

ProCare can monitor the status of the referral through the system. An SLA with the radiology providers details an expected turnaround time of 48 hours to acknowledge a referral for a joint injury and contact the patient to making a booking: the technology means the PHO can track whether that is being achieved.

Overall the new system has reduced the time to diagnosis and treatment decision, creating a better patient experience , says Roseman.

Pegasus Health strategic manager Akshey Shukla says GPs across the South Island are using the regional eReferral system, ERMS, to refer directly for MRI. Almost 320 GPs have done the training programme.

The region has set up a triage function where all referrals from across the South Island are reviewed by one doctor who decides if they are appropriate before being sent to a radiology provider.

Robyn Barnes, ERMS clinical lead, says this means the providers accept all referrals, and unnecessary MRIs referrals are rejected at an early stage, saving everyone’s time.

They have also created a clinical decision support tool to help GPs determine whether a patient needs an MRI. If they use the tool, 100 percent of the necessary information is captured in the referral form before being sent for triage, significantly improving the quality of referrals, says Shukla.

For back injuries, the wait time across the region has now reduced from 2.5 months to 14 days.

John Robson, ACC acting deputy chief executive, prevention and partnerships says the GPMRI service was co-designed with primary health organisations (PHOs) and ACC’s involvement in the eReferral technology revolves around setting the standards and requirements for providers.

“In working with our partners, we recognised the practicality of GPs being able to use existing referral systems that are largely integrated with their patient management systems,” he tells eHealthNews.

“Our feedback shows this approach has been well received, allowing providers to send referrals using the technology and format that is best for them, rather than having to implement a new system.”

Robson says there are several eReferral systems in place, reflecting the regional differences that already exist in the sector.

ACC uses the EightWire/SIA data exchange for reporting and monitoring purposes. The data exchange is a cloud-based system that facilitates secure transfers between two parties.

“The tool has a number of different pre-built configurations, or ‘connectors’, which allow us to channel content from multiple external stakeholders into one mechanism safely into ACC,” he explains.

“These ‘connectors’ support multiple data sources, giving our providers room to work with what is acceptable within their business and technology environment. This ensures security, privacy and data-quality governance issues can be successfully managed for all parties.”

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