# Pattern of Emergency and Interdepartmental Ophthalmology Referral Calls and Their Impact on Postgraduate Training at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

## TL;DR

This study examines how emergency and interdepartmental ophthalmology referrals affect postgraduate training at a hospital in Central India.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into referral patterns and their impact on resident training in a tertiary care setting.

## Key findings

- Most referrals occurred during weekdays and working hours, primarily from medicine and trauma departments.
- Diagnostic agreement between residents and seniors improved significantly over 18 months with regular exposure and feedback.

## Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the pattern and nature of emergency and interdepartmental ophthalmology referrals at a tertiary care hospital and assess their impact on the clinical competency and learning curve of postgraduate (PG) residents.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted over 18 months at a tertiary care hospital in Central India. A total of 1061 referrals were analyzed regarding demographics, referring departments, reasons for referral, ocular findings, interventions, and PG resident performance. Resident competency was assessed by comparing their evaluations with those of senior residents or consultants over six-month intervals.

Results: The average patient age was 39.76±22.26 years, with a predominance of male patients (n=650, 61.26%). The majority of referral calls were received on weekdays (n=782, 73.7%), particularly during working hours between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm (n=672, 63.34%). The department of medicine (n=377, 35.53%) and the trauma and emergency department (n=251, 23.66%) contributed the majority of referrals.

The most common reason for referral was for aid in diagnosis (n=333, 31.39%). No ocular abnormalities were found in 648 cases (61.07%). Among those with positive findings, the most frequent were ocular trauma (n=148, 13.95%) and diabetic retinopathy (n=83, 7.83%). Interventions were required in 251 cases (23.66%).

Diagnostic agreement between PG residents and seniors improved significantly from 221 cases (62.96%) to 312 cases (91.22%), and the discrepancy rate decreased from 130 cases (37.01%) to 30 cases (8.77%) over an 18-month period.

Conclusion: Interdepartmental ophthalmology referrals are crucial for both clinical care and as a structured training avenue for PG residents. Regular exposure, supervised feedback, and structured evaluation significantly enhance diagnostic proficiency. Formalizing referral training in residency programs can improve clinical outcomes and interdisciplinary collaboration.