Abstract: Emergency services need to be restructured due to increase in volume of patients both in emergency department and in terms of admission. We need to find out an alternate care pathway by which we will not only reduce the pressure of the A & E department, but also reduce the admissions and readmissions and thus save beds for the hospital. With this idea the concept of ‘Surgical Hot Clinic’ was established. The study was conducted to show the capabilities of ‘Hot Clinic’ in reducing admissions, readmissions and associated cost. We also conducted patient experience and GP feedback survey.
Methodology: A prospective study of all patients attending the hot clinic over a period of 6 weeks (Feb-Apr 2013) was undertaken.
Results: There were 346 patient attendances in the hot clinic during the study period. The age range of patients was 16-92 with a mean of 47 years. There were 148 males and 198 females in the study group. 133(38.4%) primary admissions and 36(10.4%) readmissions were avoided through the service of ‘Surgical Hot Clinic’ over the study period of. The cost per day at ‘Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital trust’ is £300. This translates to a saving of £39,900 over 6 weeks period of the study even if patients were only admitted for one day and the projected savings £345,800 over a 12-month period. There are other cost savings that are not calculated here. 98.5% of the GPs, who were surveyed, recommended this service to be available in the hospitals. >95% of the patients who attended the clinic during the study period had a very good experience and they recommended their family and friends of this service.
Conclusions: ‘Surgical Hot Clinic’ reduces emergency admissions and readmissions and associated cost.
Keywords: Hot Clinic, Emergency readmissions, readmission cost, surgical readmission.
Title: Surgical Hot Clinic – An Effective Pathway of Reducing Emergency Admissions and the Associated Costs
Author: MR. IMTIAZ, A. SREELEKHA, V. SHATKAR
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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