ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience of a new multidisciplinary balance clinic for the management of patients with vestibular disorders, run as a pilot project for 12 months. DESIGN: Retrospective review of the outcomes of 194 patients. SUBJECTS: All patients were first evaluated at the balance assessment clinic. Subsequently, each case was discussed at the multidisciplinary balance clinic weekly review meeting, and management decisions made. RESULTS: The mean waiting time for the balance assessment clinic was 12 weeks (standard deviation six weeks). In total, 74 per cent of patients underwent rehabilitation, 26 per cent were seen in the balance specialist clinic, 15 per cent underwent additional testing, 6 per cent were followed up in adult otology clinics and one patient was listed for surgery. The waiting time for vestibular rehabilitation was reduced from 21 to 15 weeks. Patient satisfaction with the service was encouraging, and no adverse outcomes were recorded. CONCLUSION: This multidisciplinary balance clinic, run by allied health professionals, represents an alternative model for the management of patients with balance disorders.
Subject(s)
Allied Health Personnel , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Outpatient Clinics, Hospital/organization & administration , Patient Care Team , Vestibular Diseases , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Clinical Competence , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Outpatient Clinics, Hospital/economics , Patient Satisfaction/statistics & numerical data , Pilot Projects , Postural Balance/physiology , Referral and Consultation , Retrospective Studies , State Medicine/organization & administration , Time Factors , Triage , United Kingdom/epidemiology , Vestibular Diseases/diagnosis , Vestibular Diseases/epidemiology , Vestibular Diseases/rehabilitation , Waiting Lists , Young AdultABSTRACT
The use of quality-control serum to monitor laboratory performance is an essential part of any health laboratory. However, laboratories in many countries are disadvantaged because of the non-availability or high cost of commercial quality-control sera. Here we describe the stability of bovine serum stabilized with ethanediol, prepared at low cost by simple techniques that are available in most laboratories.
