Improving surgical outpatient efficiency through mobile phone text messaging.
Surg Innov
; 18(4): 354-7, 2011 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21521699
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Currently, 175,000 people are on outpatient waiting lists in Irish hospitals. Many clinic slots are taken by patients returning for routine review postoperatively.METHODS:
A Nokia mobile phone was used to send an outpatient text (OPT) to patients 2 weeks postdischarge. Patients replying that they were well were discharged. If no reply after 2 attempts was received, they were scheduled for the next outpatient clinic.RESULTS:
Overall, 55 patients were offered the service over a 4-month period. Of these, 74.5% of patients were discharged from follow-up using text message surveillance. Patients were surveyed regarding their perception of the surveillance model, with all respondents ranking OPT surveillance as their preferred method of follow-up. There was a 13.6% decrease in outpatient visits over the study period. In addition, 6 emergency department visits were also avoided.CONCLUSION:
Text message surveillance decreases outpatient waiting times and increases quality of care.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Agendamento de Consultas
/
Vigilância da População
/
Eficiência Organizacional
/
Envio de Mensagens de Texto
/
Assistência Ambulatorial
Tipo de estudo:
Screening_studies
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article