Telephone assessment of new hernia referrals-is it possible?

PURPOSE: Utilisation of remote clinics is increasing in healthcare settings worldwide. During the height of the COVID pandemic, our UK-based teaching hospital has trialled telephone assessment for new patients presenting with primary hernias. Selected cases are listed for elective repair of primary hernia direct from telephone clinic assessment. In March 2021, after this process had been in place for 13 months, departmental triage criteria were introduced, allocating patients to initial assessment in Face to Face or Telephone Clinics. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of telephone assessment, with specific attention to 'Day of Surgery' cancellation. We also assess the effect of our triage criteria on rate of 'Day of Surgery' cancellation. METHODS: Departmental diaries were studied retrospectively to identify patients listed for hernia repair between February 2020 and February 2022. Data were obtained from clinic letters, discharge paperwork and operating lists, as well as from management teams. Fishers Exact test was used to compare groups seen either face to face or remotely as well and pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: 325 patients were listed for hernia repair, 56 after telephone assessment. 6 (11%) of those listed from telephone clinic were cancelled on the day of surgery, compared with 34 (13%) of those seen face to face. With triage criteria in place, listing from telephone clinic increased significantly from 14 to 27%. Overall day of surgery cancellations reduced from 13 to 9%. Rate of day of surgery cancellation in those assessed in telephone clinic reduced from 12 to 9%. CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant difference between day of surgery cancellations after face to face or telephone clinic assessment. Triage criteria for telephone assessment appear to increase the numbers being listed after remote clinics. This did not significantly impact the number of day of surgery cancellations.

Worldwide hernia repair: variations in the treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernias in adults in the United Kingdom and in low- and middle-income countries.

INTRODUCTION: In this invited commentary, we aim to quantify and explain the variation between, and also within, developed healthcare systems (using the UK as an example) and low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Rather than including complex cases, we have looked only at 'uncomplicated' primary unilateral inguinal hernias, an area where limited variation may be identified. METHODS: Data were obtained from Hospital Episode Statistics and structured surveys in the United Kingdom and in low- and middle-income countries. CONCLUSION: There is widespread variation in the repair of 'uncomplicated' primary inguinal hernias worldwide and within developed healthcare systems.