When in doubt in the diagnostic process: 'Safety-netting' can help
In collaboration with colleagues from Sweden and England, researchers at CaP have published a study that shows that communication in general practice is important for the diagnostic work. Safety-netting it is called and it is an essential tool in general practice when using the "wait-and-see" strategy in diagnostics.
When diagnosing serious illness in general practice, we know that GPs have used "wait and see" in half of all the patients they believe could be seriously ill. Especially in the diagnosis of rare, serious diseases, it is the basis for all patients to be guaranteed an optimal diagnostic process.
It is important that the GP actively invites the patient to come back if the parties are uncertain whether the symptoms presented during the consultation are indicative of serious illness.
Many cases of quality shortcomings in general practice are caused by the lack of safety-netting. Therefore, it is important that practice draw up a strategy for this. Partly because it is important for the clinical quality and the patient, and partly because it gives comfort to work in a practice where you give words to this.
CaP has a page about safety-netting where you quickly can read about the topic.
- Do you manage safe-netting in your practice? (In Danish)