CUES-Referral Guide
How to process an episode on CUES
Completing the screening form
The below guide shows how to create a CUES episode for the patient. The process begins in the patient management screen where the first booking can be made.
Having found the patient on the database, you will have the ability to select the CUES, adjacent to the patients name.
Ensure you have the correct patient and select any patient factors required.
Next, collect the patients preferred contact number, consent for the ability for their record to be held and consent for communication with them via SMS, email, letter or phone.
Following this, complete the source of referral and ask for the patients explicit consent to view their summary care record
The flag colour and guidance will change depending on which options are selected
The appointment type options can be changed by clicking on the drop-down arrow
Screening outcomes:
Completing a Telemedicine assessment
The below steps will guide you through the completion of the telemedicine assessment for CUES
Having found the patient on the referral management page, you will have the ability to select the yellow Telemedicine, adjacent to the patients name.
The first page will show patient demographics
Selecting next, the following screens will show for the following information;
- Recorded time for screening
- Time and date of the telemedicine assessment
- If exceeded timescales (check local timescales)
The next page is the clinical form which is divided into
1) Visions/Visual Acuities
2) Diagnosis
3) Clinical signs
Record subjective assessment of the patients vision same, better or worse
As you start to type in a diagnosis, you'll notice a drop-down menu appears to help make your selection.
These are SNOMED codes and you will only be able to select from a list of 190 ophthalmic conditions - link https://help.optom-referrals.org/article/649-all-diagnoses-alphabetically
Further information about your diagnosis can be written in the comments below.
If your exact diagnosis is not there, please choose the closest equivalent.
As well as selecting which eye is affected, you can add multiple diagnoses by selecting + and finding a condition in the second selection box
The next box is for your clinical signs, symptoms and observations.
We advise you to treat this like you would a practice record and include all the information such as:
H&S
Visual Acuity
Your provisional diagnosis
Treatment plan
Advice given
Plans for any F2F or Follow up advice
On the next form you have the option to produce a written order for the patient (charges and services depend upon the area.
This will be covered in more detail in the F2F section
Your next page is for your Telemedicine outcome.
Select from the drop-down list. Here you can discharge, refer or book the patient in for a further face-to-face or follow-up appointment.
Ask the patient to complete a short and anonymous satisfaction survey. Once the mobile number is added on the screening form, it will automatically populate below
Completing a face to face assessment
Having found the patient on the referral management page, you will have the ability to select the yellow Face to face assessment, adjacent to the patients name.
The rest of the process is identical to telemedicine
Written orders
Click the coloured slider to change from a private to an NHS written order
Some areas may have NHS provision such as a pharmacy service, or practice stock supply for under 2s. Please check local guidelines for more information
Select the drug, dose, frequency, duration and eyes to treat
Once you've completed the episode, you can then download the prescription to print out by accessing View documents and then selecting the Written Order from the Download Documents option
F2F outcome
Patient information leaflets can be sent - https://help.optom-referrals.org/article/651-patient-information-leaflets
Referring to a GP
If only referring to the GP, select outcome as refer to GP (general health and then complete the red tab (see below). More information can be found here https://help.optom-referrals.org/article/495-referring-to-a-gp. Please note Opera will only send routine referrals to GPs, all urgent referrals need to be sent manually, outside of Opera.
GP notifications
In all cases, GPs will receive a notification of the outcome of the CUES episode.
If you wish to send extra information to the GP (or wish to refer to both the hospital and the GP), select one of the top 3 'yes' options, the comments box at the bottom will be mandatory to complete to send to the GP.
The GP summary one pager will show 'GP action' as a heading
Ask the patient to complete a short and anonymous satisfaction survey. Once the mobile number is added on the screening form, it will automatically populate below
Completing an OCT assessment
At the end of the F2F form, select the option OCT at this practice
This will generate an OCT form for completion, including any relevant OCT findings
You will only need to upload an OCT image if you are referring onto the hospital eye service.
Completing an IP assessment
On the F2F form, the IP option appears here and you can prescribe the medication this option will only appear if you are registered as an IP optometrist.
The system will claim the IP fee. THIS APPLIES TO PATIENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN REFERRED TO YOU
For any patients referred to you, please select the option IP assessment at this practice at the end of the F2F form and complete it.
Sending a referral
All referrals need to be actioned by clicking the red referral tab. Check the details and go through to the provider choice page.
Please ensure the full referral information is populated in the box which states details for referral letter to hospital/GP.
Please ensure you check and follow local protocols (e.g. some hospitals may require a telephone call ahead of referral).
The initial information populated here will be copied from the clinical comments section so please check and add any other information relevant to the referral.
You will note it presents providers closest to the patients postcode who provide the specific clinic.
Once a patients chosen provider is selected, on the next page you have the ability to add any further attachments or images if you believe useful. On the following page, select submit.
Once submitted, Opera will create a PDF and send the referral to the chosen provider. The episode will turn green for completed and the referral status will be visible next to it.
If any images or documents have been uploaded, a P sign will appear on the left hand side of the completed episode to confirm this.
