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. 2020 Sep;34(9):e349-e352.
doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000001894.

Upscaling Virtual Fracture Clinic Use Is a Safe, Effective Measure in the Delivery of Trauma Care

Andrew J Hughes  1 , Iain H Feeley  1 , Michelle Crowley  1 , Breda Conlon  1 , Khalid Merghani  1 , Eoin C Sheehan  1   2
Affiliations

Upscaling Virtual Fracture Clinic Use Is a Safe, Effective Measure in the Delivery of Trauma Care

Andrew J Hughes et al. J Orthop Trauma. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

The Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) has proved beneficial in reducing footfall within the hospital setting, improving the cost of running a trauma service, while satisfying the majority of referred patients. The mandatory upscaling of telemedicine use, specifically the enhancement of the VFC, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, was analyzed. The remit of the VFC within our hospital was expanded so as to include all referred ambulatory trauma. Outcomes of our VFC review over the 6-week period following the introduction of the national Irish COVID-19-related restrictions were gathered. These outcomes were analyzed and compared with the corresponding 6-week period from 2019. A 77.2% increase in the VFC referral volume was observed throughout the COVID-19-related period. Patients were directly discharged in 55.2% of cases in 2020, as opposed to 47.8% in 2019 (P = 0.044); referred directly for physiotherapy in 32.9% of cases in 2020, as opposed to 28.9% in 2019 (P = 0.173); and referred to a fracture clinic in 11.9% of cases in 2020, as opposed to 23.7% in 2019 (P < 0.001). Also, 3.0% of patients returned to the clinic after discharge in 2020, compared with 4.4% in 2019 (P = 0.237); 4.5% of patients were referred for surgery in 2020, as opposed to 2.2% in 2019 (P = 0.105). The VFC proved to be an efficient tool in managing ambulatory trauma throughout the pandemic. Upscaling the VFC to include all ambulatory trauma is a safe, effective method in reducing clinic attendances and hospital footfall, whilst ensuring that high care standards are maintained. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Outcomes of the VFC for the 2020 and 2019 periods.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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