Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Implementation and Adoption of a Virtual Fracture Clinic Pathway: A Closed Loop Audit.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Implementation and Adoption of a Virtual Fracture Clinic Pathway: A Closed Loop Audit.

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
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
disease MESH COVID-19 Pandemic

Original Article

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