Glaucoma triage system: results of implementing a virtual clinic.
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol
; 261(8): 2367-2374, 2023 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36995440
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
This study describes the virtual clinic triage system implementation process at Hospital Santa Maria-Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (HSM-CHULN) and analyzes its results regarding healthcare outcomes for the patients and the system.METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed, comparing two cohorts (pre-virtual cohort; virtual triage cohort). Outcomes related to waiting time, number of hospital visits, decisions at first contact, and ancillary exam-based decisions were reported.RESULTS:
Two hundred and ninety-two charts were reviewed (pre-virtual cohort 132; virtual cohort 160). Mean waiting time between referral and the first medical contact with the glaucoma department decreased on average by 71.3 days (human contact 286.6 days; virtual triage contact 215.3 days). Triage system significantly decreased waiting time for glaucoma patients, with an average decrease of 326.8 days between referral and treatment decision. Triage staging allowed to label 107 (66.9; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 59.6%, 74.2%) as non-urgent; 30 (18.8%; 95% CI 12.7%, 24.9%) as urgent, and 23 (14.3%; 95% CI 8.9%, 19.7%) as immediate contact, with the scheduling of future appointments reflecting National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in every patient. Moreover, the number of visits to perform the same exams and obtain the same clinical decisions was reduced by 63.6%.CONCLUSION:
Our virtual screening strategy significantly decreased waiting time, number of hospital visits, and increased chances of data-assisted clinical decision. While results can be further improved, this system can add value in an overburdened healthcare system, where triage systems with remote decision-making may be valuable tools in optimizing glaucoma care, even without allocation of extra resources.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Glaucoma
/
Triagem
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article