Clinical characteristics of obstetrics and gynecology patients from other clinics who transferred through a referral center to a tertiary university hospital

Abstract

Background: Referral centers are important for tertiary university hospitals to receive patients from other clinics. However, no data are available about the clinical characteristics of patients transferred through a transfer center, particularly obstetrics and gynecologic patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients transferred from local clinics through a referral center to our tertiary university hospital between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011. One nurse and one doctor evaluated the medical charts. We excluded patients who transferred to the emergency room from other clinics. Results: A total of 249, 842, 93, and 76 patients were seen for diagnosis, management, operation, and delivery. Six patients received no recommendation from local clinics. A total of 178 patients were admitted and operated on the same day. Conclusions: The Korean government does not require that patients go to tertiary center by law, and it is advantageous that patients can choose their hospital. But a patient’s needs and the primary and secondary clinic’s requirements for transferring patients should be evaluated and considered in a multicenter study, and the role of the referral center should be remodelled accordingly.

Keywords

• delivery of health care
• patient transfer
• referral and consultation