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

Summary: Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. 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
Source: Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Original Article Source Type: research