Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Clinical Safety and Quality Service III (Projects aiming at quality service to patients and their carers)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Wong SY(1), Yung SL(1), Sin MW(1), Choi WK(1), Lo WC(1), Chiu SW(1) , Szeto L(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Anaesthesia & Operating Theatre Services, Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Introduction :
In the post-COVID-19 era, the rapid development of TeleHealth facilitates healthcare professionals in providing patient care remotely and taking the advantages of digital health technologies. In the perioperative setting, Ambulatory Surgery Services in Tseung Kwan O Hospital pioneered the TeleHealth service: Tele-Perioperative Care Nurse Clinic (PCNT) in April 2022. It includes preoperative patient preparation, optimization, counselling and education.
Objectives :
(i) To minimize patient’s travelling time and costs
(ii) To reduce waiting time of clinic attendance
(iii) To fully utilize hospital resources by reducing cancellation of operation due to inappropriate preoperative preparation
(iv) To boost the popularity of innovative TeleHealth technology in perioperative nursing
Methodology :
A task force of PCNT was established in February 2022. With the support from Co-ordinating Committee (ANA) and Specialty Advisory Group (Peri-operative/Anaesthesiology), PCNT was set up in April 2022. A series of training materials and structural programme were designed. Clinic nurses were well-equipped with knowledge of diseases management and teaching skills to conduct the perioperative TeleHealth service.
Result & Outcome :
From April 2022 to December 2023, fifty-five patients were recruited to PCNT service. After the TeleHealth service, the medical conditions of all the fifty-five patients were fully optimized and well prepared for the operations, including those who were newly diagnosed with hypertension. The patients attended their operations as scheduled, and there was no cancellation due to medically unfit conditions.
Patient and staff satisfaction surveys were conducted. 98% of patients agreed that the TeleHealth service was easy to access. They agreed that it could effectively prepare patients and carers, and allows nurses to follow up their health conditions effectively. They reported that the TeleHealth went smoothly and the audiovisual qualities were good. 96% of them were willing to participate in further TeleHealth services. Overall, all patients were satisfied with the service.
66% of nurses agreed that it was easy to instruct patients to use TeleHealth. All nurses considered that they could combine nursing knowledge and experience effectively when using new technology. 92% of them reported that they had confidence to provide perioperative services through TeleHealth. All nurses agreed that TeleHealth could effectively achieve preoperative optimization.
To conclude, TeleHealth is an effective and alternate tool to provide perioperative service. It engages both patients and carers, and enhances the patient experience in the perioperative journey.
