Publication date: Dec 01, 2024
Trauma and orthopedics departments have traditionally used face-to-face (FTF) fracture clinics for non-operative fractures. Developed in 2011, the virtual fracture clinic (VFC) was fully implemented at an institution during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce in-person interactions. First, the study aims to measure the percentage of non-operative patients triaged through the VFC when this was optional and re-audit after implementing a COVID-19-related policy change mandating VFC triage. Second, the study aims to measure the number of FTF fracture clinic interactions and re-audit after implementing three policies: national COVID-19 lockdowns, mandated VFC triage, and early appropriate discharge. Data from two periods were examined, pre-pandemic (2018-2020) and pandemic (2020-2022), at a university teaching hospital. We measured compliance with modified British Orthopaedic Association Standards for timely senior review, minimizing outpatient visits, and patient-initiated follow-up. The percentage of cases triaged to the VFC rose from 39% to 100%. FTF fracture clinic interactions dropped by 50. 2% from 35,399 to 17,639. All three policy changes reduced FTF numbers: 3. 7% due to national lockdowns, 14. 7% due to VFC triage, and 35. 5% due to early appropriate discharge. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a window in which healthcare working partners were more receptive to change. Our institution successfully used this opportunity to implement policy changes that improved patient care and maximized resources.
Concepts | Keywords |
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Fractures | boast guidelines |
Outpatient | covid-19 pandemic |
Receptive | early discharge |
face-to-face fracture clinic | |
patient-initiated follow-up | |
virtual fracture clinic |
Semantics
Type | Source | Name |
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disease | MESH | COVID-19 Pandemic |