Diagnostic Services – Organisation and Delivery
What we need
We need the following information for the guideline we are developing on the delivery and organisation of diagnostic services – covering the diagnostic disciplines of endoscopy, imaging, pathology and physiology:
- Comparisons of different service configurations for the provision of diagnostic services. For example, comparisons of:
- centralisation of these services,
- networked or hub-and-spoke systems,
- or more localised/community based service models.
Comparisons of different configurations could be within an individual diagnostic discipline or between different diagnostic disciplines (such as diagnostic suites or one stop shops).
This could include comparing different service models for the undertaking of diagnostic tests, as well as different models for the analysis/reporting of diagnostic tests.
- Comparisons of different service configurations for accessing diagnostic tests. For example, comparisons of:
- testing at presentation,
- direct access or direct-to-test services,
- or referral for specialist assessment.
- Comparisons of different service configurations for the co-location of:
- different diagnostic disciplines with each other, for example, on-site, on-campus, synchronised diagnostics or integrated testing configurations compared with no co-location.
- or the co-location of diagnostic services with certain clinical or therapeutic management services compared with no co-located services.
Service comparisons could be comparing before and after a change was implemented or comparing configurations organised differently.
We would like information that reports measureable outcomes for example,
- costs associated with providing and implementing the configurations,
- measures that provide information on quality/accuracy; repeat testing or unnecessary tests, error rates, misdiagnosis, appropriateness of referrals/tests,
- volume and efficiency measures; economies of scale, waiting times.
We cannot accept promotional material, non-evidence-based assertions of effectiveness or opinion pieces.
We are particularly interested in information promoting equality of opportunity relating to age, disability, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion and belief sexual orientation or socio-economic status.
Sending information
For published information, send only the details (to include author/s, title, date, journal or publication details, including volume and issue number, and page numbers). Do not send a pdf/Word document or paper copy.
For unpublished information, send:
- a link to any relevant trials registered with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, or with the US National Institutes of Health trials registry
- paper or electronic copies of other relevant unpublished information.
Highlight any confidential sections (unpublished research or commercially sensitive information) in unpublished information. For more details about this, see our guidelines manual.
Forms for submission of evidence
Complete the call for evidence response form and the checklist for confidential information form, including the declaration of any links with, or funding from, the tobacco industry.
Email these forms to diagservicescfe@rcplondon.ac.uk with any relevant information by 5pm on Wednesday 9 November 2016.
Send paper copies to:
Natalie Pink
Project Manager
National Guideline Centre
Care Quality Improvement Department
Royal College of Physicians
11 St Andrews Place
Regent’s Park, London
NW1 4LE
We look forward to receiving information and thank you in advance for your help.
Call for evidence response form