Postoperative robotic telerounding: a multicenter randomized assessment of patient outcomes and satisfaction

Abstract

Hypothesis: Patient safety and satisfaction are adversely affected when robotic videoconferencing (telerounding) is used in the postoperative setting.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Three academic institutions.

Patients: A total of 270 adults undergoing a urologic procedure requiring a hospital stay of 24 to 72 hours were randomized to receive either traditional bedside rounds or robotic telerounds.

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome measure was postoperative patient morbidity. Secondary outcomes were patient-reported satisfaction and hospital length of stay. Other variables assessed included demographics, procedure, operative time, estimated blood loss, and mortality. Patients also completed a validated satisfaction instrument 2 weeks after hospital discharge.

Results: Patients were equally distributed based on the baseline demographic and operative measures. Morbidity rates were similar between the study arms (standard rounds vs telerounds: 16% vs 13%; P = .64). Length of stay was similar in both arms (standard rounds vs telerounds: 2.8 vs 2.8 days; P = .94). In addition, patient satisfaction was equivalently high in both arms of the study.

Conclusions: Robotic telerounds matched the performance of standard bedside rounds after urologic surgical procedures. Virtual visits did not result in missed or increased postoperative complications. Hospital length of stay and ratings of hospital satisfaction were on par with those for traditional rounding.