Introduction
Fairfield has the highest prevalence of diabetes according to the AusDiab Study (6.2% of the population). To manage diabetes optimally, health providers need access to timely and relevant information about patients for planned and integrated care, feedback and follow-up.
Aim
The aim of this study is to improve the quality of patient information to and from Fairfield Diabetes Clinic between clinic staff, patients and referring clinicians.
Methodology
A mixed methodology will be used that includes questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with clinicians who refer to the Diabetes Clinic, a hand search of referral records and the extraction and linkage of electronic clinical records from the Diabetes Clinic and referring clinicians. This paper will report on the referral audit.
Results
The number of external referrals audited over the three month period was 94. All referrals included patient name. Reason for referral was recorded in 94.7% of referrals, type of diabetes 57.4%, duration of diabetes 61.7%, current diabetes medications 85%, other medications 72.3%, past medical history 75.5%, HbA1c 34%, total cholesterol 21.3%, triglyceride 21.3%, urine albumin to creatinine ratio 12.8%, smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity 28.9%, DOB 71.3%, gender 71.3%, contact number 53.2%, address 85.1%, language spoken at home 23.4% and if an interpreter was required 17%.
Discussion
All referrals included patient’s name, however, other relevant and necessary information about individual patients required for planned and integrated care was not available in many cases for clinicians in the Diabetes Clinic to provide optimal and timely care.
Conclusion

There is a need for improvement in patient information provided in referrals to the Diabetes Clinic. Our next step will be to feedback the results to the referrers to improve the information provided in referrals.