Table 3.
Avoidable Through | %† |
---|---|
Training in procedures such as skin biopsy or flexiblesigmoidoscopy | 17 |
Consultation with a trusted generalist colleague | 13† |
Telephone consult with specialist | 12† |
The presence of a health educator | 10 |
Readily available clinical practice guidelines | 7 |
Longer visit length | 6 |
Computerized medical expert systems | 4 |
MEDLINE search capabilities | 2† |
Subspecialty texts | 1† |
* Percentage of referrals for which generalists, using a 5-point Likert scale, felt that the factors listed would definitely or probably have allowed them to avoid referral at that time.
Resources already available to all generalists in the study clinics.