Interventions to reduce waiting times for elective procedures

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Volumn 2015, Issue 2, 2015, Pages

  Ballini, Luciana ^a   Negro, Antonella ^a   Maltoni, Susanna ^a   Vignatelli, Luca ^a   Flodgren, Gerd ^b   Simera, Iveta ^b   Holmes, Jane ^b   Grilli, Roberto ^a  

^a Agenzia Sanitaria e Sociale Regionale Emilia Romagna   (Italy)

^b UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS; COLPOSCOPY; EAR NOSE THROAT DISEASE; ELECTIVE CARE; ELECTIVE SURGERY; EPIDEMIOLOGY; HEALTH CARE; HEALTH CARE ACCESS; HEMATURIA; HOSPITAL ADMISSION; HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT; HUMAN; LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY; LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOM; OUTCOME ASSESSMENT; PATIENT REFERRAL; PRIORITY JOURNAL; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (TOPIC); REPRODUCTIVE STERILIZATION; REVIEW; SPINE SURGERY; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; TELEMEDICINE; TIME TO TREATMENT; STATISTICS AND NUMERICAL DATA;

ELECTIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES; HUMANS; INTERRUPTED TIME SERIES ANALYSIS; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS AS TOPIC; TIME-TO-TREATMENT;

EID: 84934343948     PISSN: 14651858     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005610.pub2     Document Type: Review

References (139)

1. Hofstetter PJ, Kokesh J, Ferguson AS, Hood LJ. The impact of telehealth on wait time for ENT specialty care. Telemedicine Journal & E-Health 2010;16(5):551-6.
2. Leach P, Rutherford SA, King AT, Leggate JR. Generic waiting lists for routine spinal surgery. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2004;97(3):119-20.
3. Leggett P, Gilliland AE, Cupples ME, McGlade K, Corbett R, Stevenson M, et al. A randomized controlled trial using instant photography to diagnose and manage dermatology referrals. Family Practice 2004;21(1):54-6.
4. Lowthian JA, Curtis AJ, Comitti BL, Cameron PA, Keogh MJ, Johnson WR, et al. Streamlining elective surgery care in a public hospital: the Alfred experience. Medical Journal of Australia 2011;194(9):448-51.
5. Lukman H, Bevan JR, Greenwood E. Direct booking colposcopy clinic - The Portsmouth experience. Cytopathology 2004;15(4):217-20.
6. Mallard SD, Leakeas T, Duncan WJ, Fleenor ME, Sinsky RJ. Same-day scheduling in a public health clinic: a pilot study. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice 2004;10(2):148-55.
7. McKessock L, Smith BH, Scott A, Graham W, Terry PB, Templeton A, Fitzmaurice AE. A randomized controlled trial of direct access for laparoscopic sterilization. Family Practice 2001;18(1):1-8.
8. Thomas RE, Grimshaw JM, Mollison J, McClinton S, McIntosh E, Deans H, Repper J. Cluster randomized trial of a guideline-based open access urological investigation service. Family Practice 2003;20(6):646-54.
9. Ahlburg P. Operation for lumbar disc prolapse on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory Surgery.Conference. I.A.A.S.8th International Congress on Ambulatory Surgery Brisbane, QLD Australia.Conference Start: 20090703 Conference End: 20090706 2009;15(3):22.
10. Ahlburg P, Duel P, Spangsberg NLH, Albeck MJ. Operation for lumbar disc prolapse on an outpatient basis. Ugeskrift for Laeger 2005;167(17):1852-5.
11. Arnaout A, Seely J, Robertson S, Smylie S, Knight K, Lad S, et al. An innovation in breast cancer care in Ottawa, Canada: the evaluation and validation of a rapid diagnostic and support clinic for women assessment for breast cancer. European Journal of Cancer.Conference: European Breast Cancer Conference March 2012, EBCC8 Vienna Austria 2012;48:S59.
12. Bassi RS, Haidar SG, Gupta AK, Sinha AK, Deshmukh SC. Can single-stop carpal tunnel syndrome assessment clinics reduce waiting time to surgery?. Clinical Governance 2004;9(4):222-4.
13. Bellan L. The impact of allocation of additional resources on the waiting time for cataract surgery. Healthcare Quarterly (Toronto, Ont.) 2004;7(4):54-6.
14. Bergin Shan. Getting a foot in the door: can expanding the role of podiatry assistant improve access to public podiatry services?. Australian Journal of Primary Health 2009;15(1):45-9.
15. Bibi Y, Cohen AD, Goldfarb D, Rubinshtein E, Vardy DA. Intervention program to reduce waiting time of a dermatological visit: managed overbooking and service centralization as effective management tools. International Journal of Dermatology 2007;46(8):830-4.
16. Blick C, Bailey D, Haldar N, Bdesha A, Kelleher J, Muneer A. The impact of the two-week wait rule on the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer in a single UK institution. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2010;92(1):46-50.
17. Boisjoly H, Freeman EE, Djafari F, Aubin MJ, Couture S, Bruen RP, et al. Reducing wait time for cataract surgery: comparison of 2 historical cohorts of patients in Montreal. Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology 2010;45(2):135-9.
18. Borg S. New organization shortens the waiting list for methadone therapy. Lakartidningen 1991;88(18):1673.
19. Borugian MJ, Kan L, Chu CCY, Ceballos K, Gelmon KA, Gordon PB, et al. Facilitated "Fast Track" referral reduces time from abnormal screening mammogram to diagnosis. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2001;99(4):252-6.
20. Brook MG, Baveja T, Smondulak L, Shukla S. The effect of electronic patient records (EPR) on the time taken to treat patients with genital Chlamydia infection. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2010;86(5):384-7.
21. Bungard TJ, Smigorowsky MJ, Lalonde LD, Hogan T, Doliszny KM, Gebreyesus G, et al. Cardiac EASE (Ensuring Access and Speedy Evaluation) - the impact of a single-point-of-entry multidisciplinary outpatient cardiology consultation program on wait times in Canada. Canadian Journal of Cardiology 2009;25(12):697-702.
22. Carrington S. A waiting list initiative for varicose vein surgery in Bristol. British Journal of Theatre Nursing 1991;1(5):23-5.
23. Chandler L, Callister MEJ, Williams SE, Meghjee SPL. A protocol driven nurse led clinic leads to cost savings and shorter waiting times for routine respiratory referrals. Thorax 2005;60:II96.
24. Ciardullo AV, Daghio MM, Brunetti M, De Luca ML, Magrini N. Cooperative effort between local health services, doctors and the elderly population to reduce bone densitometry waiting lists. Aging-Clinical & Experimental Research 2003;15(4):352-3.
25. Clark K, Voase R, Fletcher IR, Thomson PJ. Improving patient throughput for oral day case surgery. The efficacy of a nurse-led pre-admission clinic. Ambulatory Surgery 1999;7(2):101-6.
26. Clemente C, McGrath R, Stevenson C, Barnes J. Evaluation of a waiting list initiative in a child and adolescent mental health service. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2006;11(2):98-103.
27. Cootauco M, Groth J, Rayner CFJ. Nurse led rapid access clinic reduces waiting times and ensures timely and effective diagnosis and management of tuberculosis. Thorax 2007;62:A83.
28. Dennis ML, Ingram PW, Burks ME, Rachal JV. Effectiveness of streamlined admissions to methadone treatment: a simplified time-series analysis. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 1994;26(2):207-16.
29. Dewson SA, Field RJ. Applying the triage process to manage a podiatry waiting list for rheumatology patients. Rheumatology 2001;45:I13.
30. Droulers AM, O'Connor HT. Two methods for waiting list management in a hospital based obesity programme. InternationalJournal of Obesity 1995;19(3):217.
31. Elkhuizen SG, Burger MP, Jonkers RE, Limburg M, Klazinga N, Bakker PJ. Using business process redesign to reduce wait times at a university hospital in the Netherlands. Joint Commission Journal on Quality & Patient Safety 2007;33(6):332-41.
32. Fitzgerald M. Operator assistance with process improvement. NIATx helps one agency reduce waiting times from 21 days to 24 hours. Behavioral Healthcare 2006;26(5):20, 22, 2006.
33. Fortune GM, Magee JA, Brien C. Development of a waiting list initiative and implementation of an early intervention clinic for non-epileptic attack disorder. Epilepsia 2012;53:69.
34. Garfield SR, Collen MF, Feldman R. Evaluation of an ambulatory medical care delivery system. New England Journal of Medicine 1976;294(8):426-31.
35. Graves J, Fleischman MH, Goldstein GD. Derm Access: a new triage system to rapidly identify suspicious skin lesions. Dermatologic Surgery 2006;32(12):1486-90.
36. Gustafson DH, Quanbeck AR, Robinson JM, Ford JH 2nd, Pulvermacher A, French MT, et al. Which elements of improvement collaboratives are most effective? A cluster-randomized trial. Addiction 2013;108(6):1145-57.
37. Quanbeck AR, Gustafson DH, Ford JH 2nd, Pulvermacher A, French MT, McConnell KJ, et al. Disseminating quality improvement: study protocol for a large cluster-randomized trial. Implementation Science 2011;6(44):1-10.
38. Haggarty JM, Jarva JA, Cernovsky Z, Karioja K, Martin L. Wait time impact of co-located primary care mental health services: the effect of adding collaborative care in northern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry - Revue Canadienne de Psychiatrie 2012;57(1):29-33.
39. Hanning M. Maximum waiting-time guarantee - an attempt to reduce waiting lists in Sweden. Health Policy 1996;36(1):17-35.
40. Hanning M, Lundstrom M. Waiting for cataract surgery - effects of a maximum waiting-time guarantee. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 2007;12(1):5-10.
41. Harding KE, Taylor NF, Leggat SG, Stafford M. Effect of triage on waiting time for community rehabilitation: a prospective cohort study. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2012;93(3):441-5.
42. HMT . Solution helps shorten referral wait times. University health system uses referral-automation and decision-support software to reduce wait times for specialty care. Health Management Technology 2012;33(3):12-3.
43. Hobday A, Dickson C. Information surgeries: a waiting list management initiative. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2003;6(1):41-2.
44. Jibawi A, Jackson T, Scally J, Baker J, Gurnani L, Arnett L, et al. Redesigning breast service to reduce waiting times, improve patient satisfaction and enhance the quality of care: a successful innovative approach. British Journal of Surgery 2005;92:16-7.
45. Jones E, Lucey C, Wadland L. Triage: a waiting list initiative in a child mental health service. Psychiatric Bulletin 2000;24(2):57-9.
46. Keller GA. Management for quality: continuous quality improvement to increase access to outpatient mental health services. Psychiatric Services 1997;48(6):821-5.
47. Kendall N. Improving access to oral surgery services in primary care. Primary Dental Care 2009;16(4):137-42.
48. Kew FM, Appleby D, Whittaker V, Cruickshank DJ, Knott S. Providing a quality service: direct referral from the cytology laboratory to the colposcopy clinic. Journal of Medical Screening 2001;12(1):3-6.
49. Khawaja AR, Allan SM. Has the breast cancer 'two week wait' guarantee for assessment made any difference?. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 2000;26(6):536-9.
50. Kielar AZ, El-Maraghi RH, Schweitzer ME. Improving equitable access to imaging under universal-access medicine: the Ontario wait time information program and its impact on hospital policy and process. Journal of the American College of Radiology 2010;7(8):573-81.
51. Kirkwood BJ, Pesudovs K, Latimer P, Coster DJ. The efficacy of a nurse-led preoperative cataract assessment and postoperative care clinic. Medical Journal of Australia 2006;184(6):278-81.
52. Kumari M, Nikolopoulos I, Huf S, Corry D, Thakur K. Does the "two week wait" target improve the waiting times for specialist review and also waiting time between first seen by colorectal cancer specialist and diagnosis of colorectal cancer?. European Journal of Cancer 2001;47:S411.
53. Lal A, Phillips S, Russell C, Woolhouse I. The novel use of fast track CT to select patients for lung cancer clinics: effect on clinic efficiency, waiting times, and patient satisfaction. Postgraduate Medical Journal 2011;87(1026):264-8.
54. Lim D, Oakley AM, Rademaker M. Better, sooner, more convenient: a successful teledermoscopy service. Australasian Journal of Dermatology 2012;53(1):22-5.
55. Lizan-Garcia M, Planchuelo JL, Lizan-Garcia ML, Garbizu-Esteban I. Evaluation of a program to reduce surgical waiting-lists according to change in the surgical center. Revista de Calidad Asistencial 2001;16(3):195-8.
56. Magnusson C, Collins D. RA diagnosis clinic: an experiment in prioritizing appointments for suspected RA. Journal of Rheumatology Conference: 65th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Rheumatology Association, CRA Quebec City, QC Canada. 2010; Vol. 37, 6 Suppl 2, issue var.pagings:1337.
57. Marden PF, Newton A, Williamson M, Robertson D. Colonoscopy waiting lists: revalidation by general practitioners is cost effective and reduces unnecessary endoscopy commissioning. Gut 2001;56:A16-7.
58. Marquez S, Portella E. Evaluation of a program for reducing the surgical waiting list on the basis of on the spot payment. Medicina Clinica 1994;103(5):169-73.
59. Martin J, Bowden P, Stephens R, Andrews J, Bishop M. Managing waiting time for radiotherapy: a single machine unit experience. Australasian Radiology 2005;49(6):480-4.
60. Maruthachalam K, Stoker E, Chaudhri S, Noblett S, Horgan AF. Evolution of the two-week rule pathway - direct access colonoscopy vs outpatient appointments: one year's experience and patient satisfaction survey. Colorectal Disease 2005;7(5):480-5.
61. May C, Giles L, Gupta G. Prospective observational comparative study assessing the role of store and forward teledermatology triage in skin cancer. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 2008;33(6):736-9.
62. McLeod H, Ham C, Kipping R. Booking patients for hospital admissions: evaluation of a pilot programme for day cases. British Medical Journal 2003;327(7424):1147.
63. Menzies RD, Young RA. Referrals from a primary care-based sports medicine department to an orthopaedic department: a retrospective cohort study. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2001;45(13):1064-7.
64. Mitchell J, Hussaini H, McGovern D, Farrow R, Maskell G, Dalton H. The "jaundice hotline" for the rapid assessment of patients with jaundice. British Medical Journal 2002;325(7357):213-5.
65. Montoro JGC, Medina Ferrer E, Custardoy Olavarrieta J, Pineda Cuenca M, Orozco Beltran D, Quirce Andres F. Impact of an intervention on the waiting-list for medical specialists in a health area. Atencion Primaria 2002;30(9):549-55.
66. Newey M, Clarke M, Green T, Kershaw C, Pathak P. Nurse-led management of carpal tunnel syndrome: an audit of outcomes and impact on waiting times. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2006;88(4):399-401.
67. Newman RD, Nightingale J. Improving patient access to videofluoroscopy services: role of the practitioner-led clinic. Radiography 2011;17(4):280-3.
68. Nichols N, Oldford D. NP access clinic - a collaborative approach to ensuring timely access for low risk outpatient cardiology referrals. Canadian Journal of Cardiology Conference: 64th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, CCS 2011 Vancouver, BC Canada 2011;27(6 Suppl 1):S349.
69. Ogunbamise A, Reardon M, Mohoboob M, Lelliott P. Impact of a fast-track assessment clinic on waiting times and non-attendance rates for new referrals to a community mental health centre. Psychiatric Bulletin. 2005;29(11):413-5.
70. Old O, Rogers T. Restructuring services to reduce waiting times and prevent complications: neonatal inguinal hernias at Bristol Children's Hospital. Clinical Governance 2001;17(1):39-44.
71. Perez FPF, Perez CF, Ledo MJS, Garcia ER, Casas IJ, Morante DF, et al. Impact of a priority scale in a waiting list for bariatric surgery. Obesity Surgery 2005;15(7):929.
72. Phillips SA, Ross PD, Chalmers K, MacDougall G. Can we improve dysphagia referrals?. Journal of Laryngology & Otology 2001;121(6):584-7.
73. Pomerantz A, Cole BH, Watts BV, Weeks WB. Improving efficiency and access to mental health care: combining integrated care and advanced access. General Hospital Psychiatry 2008;30(6):546-51.
74. Poot B. A nurse-led cough clinic improves patient wait times. Respirology Conference: TSANZ and ANZSRS Annual Scientific Meetings Perth, WA Australia. 2011; Vol. 16:9.
75. Proenca G, Ferreira D, Freitas A, Madeira F, Soares AO, Ferreira R. Special program to reduce cardiology consultation waiting lists: report on an innovatory experience. Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia 2003;22(11):1335-42.
76. Rayner WJ, Neal JJ. Pre-assessment triage of orthodontic referrals at an East Yorkshire Hospital. British Dental Journal 2008;204(9):493-5.
77. Reece RJ, Hesselden A. Clinical specialist physiotherapy assessment of patients referred to an out-patient rheumatology service is effective in managing waiting lists. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2001;62:340.
78. Reid MJ, David LA, Nicholl JE. A one-stop carpal tunnel clinic. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2009;91(4):301-4.
79. Rochester M, Scurrell S, Parry JR. Prospective evaluation of a novel one-stop testicular clinic. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2008;90(7):565-70.
80. Ross C. Reduction in osteoporosis physiotherapy waiting times through service redesign. Osteoporosis International.Conference: Osteoporosis Conference December 2010 Liverpool United Kingdom. 2010; Vol. 21:S508.
81. Salam MA, Matai V, Salhab M, Hilger AW. The facial skin lesions "see and treat" clinic: a prospective study. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 2006;263(8):764-6.
82. Sanderson D, Limber C, Eldred C, Harrison K. Patient access. To the ENT degree. Health Service Journal 2003;113(5844):26-7.
83. Scheurmier N, Breen AC. A pilot study of the purchase of manipulation services for acute low back pain in the United Kingdom. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics 2001;21(1):14-8.
84. Seagger R, Bunker T, Hamer P. Surgeon-operated ultrasonography in a one-stop shoulder clinic. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 2011;93(7):528-31.
85. Shetty A, Manimaran N, Reece-Smith H. Direct access day-case hernia surgery: a logical option for reduction in waiting time. Ambulatory Surgery 2004;11(1-2):41-3.
86. Siofradh MK. Waiting list interventions at clinical psychology departments: an evaluation of a multiple-group, CBT based, "anxiety management programme" for adult outpatients. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses - UK & Ireland. University College Dublin, 2000.
87. Smigorowsky MJ. The effect of a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic on wait times for cardiology consult. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses 2007:87-n/a.
88. Snow BW, Cartwright PC, Everitt S, Ekins M, Maudsley W, Aloi S. A method to improve patient access in urological practice. Journal of Urology 2009;182(2):663-7.
89. Sri-Ram K, Irvine T, Ingham Clark CL. A direct booking hernia service - a shorter wait and a satisfied patient. Ambulatory Surgery 2006;12(3):113-7.
90. Sulaiman S, Chong KW, Gaudoin M. One-stop postmenopausal bleeding clinics reduce patient waiting times and theatre costs. Scottish Medical Journal 2004;49(4):152-4.
91. Tavakol P, Labruto F, Bergstrand L, Blomqvist L. Effects of outsourcing magnetic resonance examinations from a public university hospital to a private agent. Acta Radiologica 2011;52(1):81-5.
92. Tebe C, Adam P, Alomar S, Espallargues M. Impact of a prioritisation system for patients on waiting list for hip and knee arthroplasties and cataract surgery (Structured abstract). Health Technology Assessment Database.2012 Issue 4, J. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.Chichester, UK.Division: ST., 2012, issue 4.
93. Tinkler K. Setting up, piloting, implementing and reviewing a GP direct access service for the diagnosis of lower limb deep vein thrombosis. PQDT - UK & Ireland. Ethos- Electronic Thesis Online Service, 2004.
94. Toustrup K, Lambertsen K, Birke-Sorensen H, Ulhoi B, Sorensen L, Grau C. Reduction in waiting time for diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer - a fast track study. Acta Oncologica 2011;50(5):636-41.
95. Unknown 1950. Experiment in Cambridgeshire; reducing hospital waiting lists. Nursing Times 1950;46(17):448.
96. Unknown 197. Day surgery cuts wait time, saves $550, 000 in 4 years. Employee Benefit Plan Review 1975;30(6):16, 1975.
97. Unknown . Henry Ford Health's 'Saturn' system slashes waiting times. Healthcare Systems Strategy Report 1995;12(11):1-2.
98. West B, Bennett JA, Deegan PC, Merry P, Watson L, Jones NS, et al. Reducing waiting times for sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome and snoring using a questionnaire and home oximetry: results of a second audit cycle. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 2001;115(8):645-7.
99. White S, Magrane T, Hamer A, Fisher N. Echocardiographer technician led valve follow-up clinic (valve clinic). Heart Lung and Circulation.Conference: New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Rotorua New Zealand 2010;19:S34.
100. Wijesekara G. One stop access clinic - a model for the future. Journal of Vascular Access Conference: Inaugural Meeting of the Vascular Access Society of Britain and Ireland September 2010 Manchester United Kingdom Conference. Manchester, UK, 2011; Vol. 12:106.
101. Wong BCY, Chi Kuen C, Ka Wah W, Wai Man W, Man Fung Y, Kam Chuen L, et al. Evaluation of a new referral system for the management of dyspepsia in Hong Kong: role of open-access upper endoscopy. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2000;15(11):1251-6.
102. Wynn-Williams N, Shaw JB, Mashiter WE. A scheme which has successfully reduced a sanatorium waiting-list. Lancet 1950;1(6597):221-4.
103. Heptulla RA, Choi SJ, Belamarich PF. A quality improvement intervention to increase access to pediatric subspecialty practice. Pediatrics 2013;131(2):e585-90.
104. Salisbury C, Foster NE, Hopper C, Bishop A, Hollinghurst S, Coast J, et al. A pragmatic randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of 'PhysioDirect' telephone assessment and advice services for physiotherapy. Health Technology Assessment.(Winchester, England) 2013;17(2):1-157.
105. Salisbury C, Montgomery AA, Hollinghurst S, Hopper C, Bishop A, Franchini A, et al. Effectiveness of PhysioDirect telephone assessment and advice services for patients with musculoskeletal problems: pragmatic randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2013;346:f43.
106. Sobolev BG, Fradet G, Kuramoto L, Sobolyeva R, Rogula B, Levy AR. Evaluation of supply-side initiatives to improve access to coronary bypass surgery. BMC Health Services Research 2012;12:311.
107. Stewart MT, Horgan CM, Garnick DW, Ritter G, McLellan AT. Performance contracting and quality improvement in outpatient treatment: effects on waiting time and length of stay. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2013;44(1):27-33.
108. Augestad KM, Revhaug A, Vonen B, Johnsen R, Lindsetmo RO. The one-stop trial: does electronic referral and booking by the general practitioner (GPs) to outpatient day case surgery reduce waiting time and costs? A randomized controlled trial protocol. BC Surgery 2008;8(14):1-10.
109. Wahlberg H, Valle PC, Malm S, Broderstad AR. Practical health co-operation - the impact of a referral template on quality of care and health care co-operation: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials [Electronic Resource] 2013;14:7.
110. Appleby J, Boyle S, Devlin N, Harley M, Harrison A, Locock L. Sustaining reduction in waiting times. Identifying successful strategies. King's Fund 2005.
111. Appleby J. Cutting NHS waiting times. Identifying strategies for sustainable reductions. King's Fund 2005.
112. Appleby J. What's happening to waiting times?. British Medical Journal (Clinical research ed) 2011;342:d1235.
113. Black N. Surgical waiting lists are inevitable: time to focus on work undertaken. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2004;97:159-60.
114. Dash P. New providers in UK health care. British Medical Journal (Clinical Research ed) 2004;328(7435):340-2.
115. Davey P, Brown E, Charani E, Fenelon L, Gould IM, Holmes A, et al. Interventions to improve antibiotic prescribing practices for hospital inpatients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 4. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003543.pub3]
116. Department of Health. Growing capacity. Independent Sector Diagnosis and Treatment Centres. Department of Health Publications. London (UK) 2002.
117. Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group. EPOC Website. http://epoc.cochrane.org/epoc-author-resources (last accessed 10 February 2014).
118. Guyatt GH, Oxman AD, Kunz R, Vist GE, Falck-Ytter Y, Schunemann HJ, et al. What is 'quality of evidence' and why is it important to clinicians?. British Medical Journal 2008;336:995-8.
119. Harrison A, New B. Access to Elective Care. What Should Really Be Done About Waiting Lists. 2nd Edition. London: Kings Fund Publishing, 2000.
120. Higgins JPT, Green S (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions Version 5.1.0 [updated March 2011]. The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011. www.cochranehandbook.org.
121. Hirvonen J, Blom M, Tuominen U, Seitsalo S, Lehto M, Paavolainen P, et al. Evaluating waiting time effect on health outcomes at admission: a prospective randomized study on patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice 2007;13(5):728-33.
122. Hurst J, Siciliani L. Tackling excessive waiting times for elective surgery: a comparison of policies in twelve OECD countries. OECD. Working Papers 2003:1-54.
123. Kipping R, Robert G, McLeod H, Clark J. A review of priority scoring and slot systems for elective surgery. Birmingham (UK), University of Birmingham, School of Public Policy, Health Services Management Centre, 2002.
124. Kreindler S. Policy strategies to reduce waits for elective care: a synthesis of international evidence. British Medical Bulletin 2010;95(1):7-32.
125. Lindsay CM, Feigenbaum B. Rationing by waiting lists. American Economic Review 1984;74(3):404-17.
126. Rationing and rationality in the National Health Service. The persistence of waiting lists. The MacMillan Press 1993.
127. Mayor S. Privately run surgery centres for NHS patients proposed. British Medical Journal 2003;327(640):6.
128. Miller AR, Armstrong RW, Mâsse LC, Klassen AF, Shen J, O'Donnell ME. Waiting for child developmental and rehabilitation services: an overview of issues and needs. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2008;50(11):815-21.
129. Propper C, Sutton M, Whitnall C, Windmeijer F. Did targets and terror reduce waiting times in Englandfor hospital care?. B E Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy 2008;8(2):Article 5.
130. Rachlis MM. Solutions to health care wait lists. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives 2005;9:1-38.
131. Ramsay CR, Matowe L, Grilli R, Grimshaw JM, Thomas RE. Interrupted time series designs in health technology assessment: lessons from two systematic reviews of behavior change strategies. International Journal of Technology Assessment of Health Care 2003;19:613-23.
132. Thomson Reuters. Reference Manager. 12. London: Thomson ISI ResearchSoft, 2010.
133. Siciliani L, Hurst J. Explaining waiting times variations for elective surgery across OECD countries. OECD. Working Papers 2003.
134. Siciliani L. A note on the dynamic interaction between waiting times and waiting lists. Health Economics 2008;17:639-47.
135. Siciliani L, Borowitz M, Moran V (eds). Waiting time polizie in the health sector: what works?. OECD Health Policy Studies, OECD Publishing; http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264179080-en (last accessed 16 July 2013) 2013.
136. StataCorp . Stata Statistical Software. 12. College Station, TX: StataCorp LP, 2011.
137. Wagner AK, Soumerai SB, Zhang F, Ross D. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series studies in medication use research. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics 2002;27:299-309.
138. Willcox S, Seddon M, Dunn S, Edwards RT, Pearse J, Tu JV. Measuring and reducing waiting times: a cross-national comparison of strategies. Health Affairs (Millwood) 2007;26(4):1078-87.
139. Yates J. Why Are We Waiting? An Analysis of Hospital Waiting Lists. Why Are We Waiting? An Analysis of Hospital Waiting Lists. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1987.