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British Dental Journal Jun 1997To investigate the use of an oral pathology service by general dental practitioners over a 20-year period.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of an oral pathology service by general dental practitioners over a 20-year period.
DESIGN
Retrospective analysis of the number of cases received for histological examination in 1975, 1984 and 1994.
SETTING
Birmingham Dental Hospital.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
1101, 2395 and 3366 specimens were accessed respectively for the three years studied. Number and proportion of specimens received, number and proportion that were hard or soft tissue specimens and the information on the request form were recorded. A comparison was made between the provisional clinical and histological diagnoses.
RESULTS
Although the number of specimens accessed increased approximately 3-fold, the number of specimens accessed from general dental practitioners increased 5-fold. The variety of histological categories increased by over 50%, most being soft tissue specimens. The number of correct provisional diagnoses increased steadily but the percentage with inappropriate provisional diagnoses remained the same. Information on request forms steadily improved.
CONCLUSIONS
The increased number of specimens received from general dental practitioners over the 20-year period reflects an increased demand for an oral pathology diagnostic service. The referral pattern most likely indicates an increased awareness by general dental practitioners of the need to biopsy lesions arising within the oral cavity.
Topics: Biopsy; Dental Service, Hospital; Diagnostic Errors; Diagnostic Services; England; General Practice, Dental; Humans; Mouth Diseases; Mouth Neoplasms; Pathology Department, Hospital; Pathology, Oral; Practice Patterns, Dentists'; Referral and Consultation; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 9217339
DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4809403 -
JAMA Apr 1990
Topics: Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; Diagnostic Services; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 2179589
DOI: No ID Found -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jul 1988
Topics: Congenital Abnormalities; DNA; Diagnostic Services; Genetic Counseling; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Genetic Markers; Genetic Testing; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Laboratories; Molecular Biology; Neuromuscular Diseases; Pedigree; Scotland
PubMed: 3166390
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.297.6643.276 -
Lancet (London, England) Apr 1979
Topics: Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Errors; Diagnostic Services; Evaluation Studies as Topic
PubMed: 86046
DOI: No ID Found -
Lancet (London, England) Jun 1982
Topics: Costs and Cost Analysis; Defensive Medicine; Diagnostic Services; Humans; Malpractice; United States
PubMed: 6123729
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Clinical Ultrasound : JCU Dec 1978
Topics: Diagnostic Services; Humans; Minnesota; Mobile Health Units; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 103913
DOI: 10.1002/jcu.1870060603 -
European Journal of Clinical... Jun 2010Microorganisms spread across national boundaries and the professional activities of clinical (medical) microbiologists are critical in minimising their impact. Clinical... (Review)
Review
Microorganisms spread across national boundaries and the professional activities of clinical (medical) microbiologists are critical in minimising their impact. Clinical microbiologists participate in many activities, e.g. diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, and there is a need for a set of professional standards for Europe with a common curriculum, to build upon the current strengths of the specialty and to facilitate the free movement of specialists within the European Union. Such standards will also better highlight the important contribution of clinical microbiologists to healthcare. There is a move to larger centralised microbiology laboratories often located off-site from an acute hospital, driven by the concentration of resources, amalgamation of services, outsourcing of diagnostics, automation, an explosion in the range of staff competencies and accreditation. Large off-site centralised microbiology laboratories are often distant to the patient and may not facilitate the early detection of microbial spread. Ultimately, the needs of patients and the public are paramount in deciding on the future direction of clinical microbiology. Potential conflicts between integration on an acute hospital site and centralisation can be resolved by a common set of professional standards and a team-based approach that puts patients first.
Topics: Communicable Diseases; Diagnostic Services; European Union; Humans; Microbiological Techniques
PubMed: 20333424
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-010-0906-2 -
Clinical Radiology Apr 2008The widespread introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) into mainstream imaging departments has enabled many centres to undertake cardiac MDCT and, in... (Review)
Review
The widespread introduction of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) into mainstream imaging departments has enabled many centres to undertake cardiac MDCT and, in particular, MDCT coronary angiography. This review highlights the areas that need consideration when introducing a new cardiac MDCT service and covers both technical and non-technical aspects. This includes equipment requirements, personnel, training, patient selection and preparation, cardiac CT protocols and post-processing techniques, and potential pitfalls.
Topics: Artifacts; Contrast Media; Coronary Angiography; Diagnostic Services; Electrocardiography; Heart Diseases; Humans; Radiation Dosage; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 18325353
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2007.10.011 -
Maryland State Medical Journal Apr 1970
Topics: Child; Community Health Services; Counseling; Diagnostic Services; Disabled Persons; Humans; Maryland
PubMed: 4246698
DOI: No ID Found -
American Journal of Clinical Pathology Apr 1996Traditionally, information technology in health care has helped practitioners to collect, store, and present information and also to add a degree of automation to simple... (Review)
Review
Traditionally, information technology in health care has helped practitioners to collect, store, and present information and also to add a degree of automation to simple tasks (instrument interfaces supporting result entry, for example). Thus commercially available information systems do little to support the need to model, execute, monitor, coordinate, and revise the various complex clinical processes required to support health-care delivery. Workflow computing, which is already implemented and improving the efficiency of operations in several nonmedical industries, can address the need to manage complex clinical processes. Workflow computing not only provides a means to define and manage the events, roles, and information integral to health-care delivery but also supports the explicit implementation of policy or rules appropriate to the process. This article explains how workflow computing may be applied to health-care and the inherent advantages of the technology, and it defines workflow system requirements for use in health-care delivery with special reference to diagnostic pathology.
Topics: Ambulatory Care; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; Computer Simulation; Diagnostic Services; Humans; Models, Organizational; Pathology, Clinical; Pathology, Surgical
PubMed: 8607457
DOI: No ID Found