Authors (including presenting author) :
Tang KB(1), Suen HK(2), Mak HM(2), Yan WW(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Intensive Care Unit, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (2)Accident and Emergency Department, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is administration of almost 100% oxygen to patients in a pressurized chamber with a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. HBOT is indicated for various elective and emergency conditions. Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) has been providing HBOT services since 2018, catering to all elective and emergency cases in Hong Kong. Demand for HBOT service has risen from 16.6 referrals per month in Year 2021 to 22 referrals per month in Year 2022 (32.5% increase). To accommodate with the growing number of referrals, PYNEH HBOT Centre has implemented measures since June 2023 to increase service provision.
Objectives :
To review the change in service demand and service delivery before (1st Jun, 2022 – 30th Nov, 2022) and after measure implementation (1st Jun, 2023 – 30th Nov, 2023).
Methodology :
To enhance the service provision of the HBOT service, our centre has increased the number of multiplace chamber elective sessions from two per day to three per day since 1st June, 2023. Additionally, by assigning single technologist to operate the elective multiplace chamber sessions, we were able to run parallel sessions for emergency cases without cancelling elective cases. Furthermore, our centre has introduced monoplace chamber service since 31st July, 2023, providing additional capacity to accommodate elective and semi-urgent cases.
Result & Outcome :
Since implementing these measures, the number of patient treatment episodes conducted has risen from 163.2 episodes per month in Jun-Nov 2022 to 366.2 episodes per month in Jun-Nov 2023 (124% increase), and chamber occupancy has gone up from 64% in Jun-Nov 2022 to 88% in Jun-Nov 2023 (37.2% increase). The number of patients treated has increased from 12.5 per month in Jun-Nov 2022 to 23.17 per month in Jun-Nov 2023 (85.3% increase). Nevertheless, the number of referrals has risen from 25 per month in Jun-Nov 2022 to 38.33 per month in Jun-Nov 2023 (53.3% increase), resulting in a service gap increase from 12.5 cases in Jun-Nov 2022 to 15.17 cases in Jun-Nov 2023 (21.3% increase).
PYNEH HBOT Centre has successfully increased service provision since June 2023. However, the increased service provision still falls short of meeting the ever-increasing service demand. Strategic planning for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is urgently needed.
