A prospective study of the workload of a newly formed PEG advice team

Background A multidisciplinary advice team may be the optimal way of provid ing the long-term nutritional and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) -related care for patients dependent on PEG feeding but the workload involv ed is unknown. Aim To study prospectively the workload of a proactive, multidisciplinary P EG advice team over a 2-year period. Methods Separate documentation from main case notes of each episode of the team's contact with PEG or potential PEG patients, including assessment, ad vice and therapy given, from the time of its establishment, for four consec utive 6-monthly periods. Results During the audit, 89 patients were referred to the team for conside ration of PEG insertion and PEGs were placed in 74. Eighty-nine additional patients were referred for follow up having had a PEG placed elsewhere. Dur ing the four audit periods the rate of new PEG insertions increased by 53%, the rate of PEG replacements by 315%, and the number of patients under the team increased from 16 to 70, an increase of 337%. Numbers of inpatient an d outpatient consultations, and visits to other institutions by members of the team increased commensurately. Conclusions The rapidly increasing workload of the team suggests it is play ing a valued role but there are significant resource implications.