Description of an internal medicine outreach consultant appointment in Western KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2007 to mid-2014.

BACKGROUND . This study is a description of an Internal Medicine outreach appointment in western KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from 2007 to mid-2014, facilitated by the transport services of the Red Cross Air Mercy Service (AMS) and funded by the KZN-Department of Health (KZN-DOH). The hospital visits represented 'multifaceted' as opposed to 'simple' outreach. METHODS The AMS database of outreach visits was analysed according to frequencies of visits, number of patient contacts and number of contacts with medical personnel. A brief history and nature of the outreach visits is described. RESULTS From January 2007 to end-June 2014, the outreach physician undertook 481 hospital visits and visited seven hospitals (out of 21) more than 40 times each. A total of 3340 medical personnel contacts were made, and 5239 patients were seen. Other Internal Medicine specialists undertook an additional 199 visits, during which they made 1157 personnel contacts and saw 2020 patients. The combined total was thus 680 visits undertaken, 4497 medical personnel contacts made, and 7259 patients seen. CONCLUSION This study showed that the appointment of a dedicated outreach consultant for a particular discipline together with a reliable air and road transport system was successful in providing access to specialist care in rural settings. This strategy could be recommended throughout South Africa. Further studies would be required in order to assess outcomes.