Respiratory Virtual Clinic: Quality Improvement Project
Niazi, M Piracha, Shahbaz Twayana, R Maqsood, U Sahal, A
Niazi, M
Piracha, Shahbaz
Twayana, R
Maqsood, U
Sahal, A
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Affiliation
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
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Publication date
2022-06
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Collections
Research Projects
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Abstract
PURPOSE: Virtual Clinic (VC) is a norm since the COVID-19 and there have been rapid developements to switch hospital services virtually. Our quality improvement project (QIP) predates COVID-19 hence the main aim of QIP was to establish a modern way of following up investigation after discharge and avoid non-clinical hospital or general pracitioner (GP) contact.
METHODS: We screened the discharges from the respiratory ward. We reviewed the discharge summaries for February 2019 to look at the numbers that required any investigation post-discharge that could have been followed up virtually. We identified several patients and proceeded to set up a VC to be run by the respiratory trainees. VC referral form with strict citeria was configured and we did several teachings of the medical/nursing staff on the respiratory ward. We ran the pilot VC for March-April 2019.
RESULTS: In our preliminary assessment, we had 19 investigations in February 2019 which were suitable for VC follow up. We received 45 VC referrals for for follow up in March/April 2019. These referrals were related to 28 individuals who would have otherwise required face to face clinic or GP follow up.
CONCLUSIONS: Due to promising results, VC is now established as a formal clinic in our Trust and has taken a significant role of following up elegible COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The project exhibits evolutiornary methods to safely follow up patients whom otherwise would have required a specialist or GP clinic appointment. An established VC at the advent of COVID-19 gave us a head start over many other hospitals when establishing our services virtually.
Citation
Niazi M, Piracha Shahbaz, Twayana R, Maqsood U, Sahal A. Respiratory Virtual Clinic: Quality Improvement Project. Chest Journal.2022 Jun 161(6):A283. doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2021.12.314
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Article