The e-viewer study - Epworth virtual ward round study.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This projects sets out to explore the benefits associated with using a video conferencing solution in conjunction with the Point of Care (PoC) system for post-operative surgical inpatient review. BACKGROUND: For patients undergoing surgery in a multi-day admission, standard care requires that their surgeon will review the patient post-operatively to check on their progress. This is usually done by the specialist attending in person. However, in the Australian setting, most specialist work at multiple institutions. As a result, review ward rounds can be delayed, which also delay management decision and discharge and may lower patient satisfaction. Telemedicine, whereby doctors consult outpatients via internet video, has been successfully practised in Australia. This technology could also be used in the inpatient post-operative setting as an adjunct to the current in-person ward rounds. METHOD: A pilot study of 200 patients will be conducted to demonstrate usability, feasibility and proof of concept over approximately 3 months. A two arm non-blinded study design will be adopted. Clinicians who have experience with Telemedicine will be used in the intervention arm to minimise any training issues from the clinicians' side for the pilot study. RESULTS: It is expected that the posed hypotheses should be proved; namely: that use of video conferencing capabilities in conjunction with the PoC as an adjunct method for surgeons to conduct inpatient post-operative reviews will lead to: i) higher patient satisfaction. ii) higher VMO satisfaction. iii) higher ward staff satisfaction. iv) greater efficiency of care delivery. v) cost savings. CONCLUSIONS: The expected benefits include discharge time increased by at least 10% by 10am, increasing patient satisfaction, staff satisfaction and VMO satisfaction. In addition, with the Geelong location going-live soon it is expected that this capability will make VMOs more likely to operate in Geelong since they could perform ward rounding virtually.