Authors (including presenting author) :
CHANG M Y (1)(6), Cheung F C (1)(6), Poon T L (1)(6), Man K L (1)(6), Cheung Y F (2)(6), Chan H F (2)(6), CHEE S H (3)(6), CLANCEY J (4)(6), FONG W S (5)(6), LEUNG K H (2)(6)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Neurosurgery, (2)Department of Medicine, (3)Department of Physiotherapy, (4)Department of Occupational Therapy, (5)Department of Speech Therapy, (6)Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Introduction :
Historically, our center would arrange potential Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) candidates to be admitted for the LCT. Under COVID-19 pandemic, the non-emergency admission had been suspended. We need to reengineer the service delivery model in an appropriate setting to meet patients’ need and achieve clinical outcomes. We reengineer the LCT as ambulatory in DBS clinic and the nurse specialist acts as a coordinator to collaborate multidisciplinary professionals’ assessment.
Objectives :
This retrospective observational study aims to analyze the benefits of the ambulatory LCT from hospital and patient views.
Methodology :
All cases involved in ambulatory LCT, we review the hospital benefit and explore the patients’ feedbacks.
Result & Outcome :
From June to November 2020, we had 8 patients for ambulatory LCT. Under ambulatory LCT, the length of stay was reduced one day per case. It is expected to save at least 12 days per year. For patients’ benefits, they are less exposure to infection risk when compared to inpatient setting. No complaint or adverse event was noted. There are positive feedbacks from the patients in which they feel less anxious as the caregiver can stay with them in the whole process. They feel safer as the test in outpatient setting. From the study, we found that the ambulatory LCT reduces the reliance on inpatient care and improve access to services. The reengineering of clinical pathway achieves the clinical outcome and got satisfaction from the patients. The ambulatory LCT brings benefits to both hospital and patients, we plan to continue launching LCT as ambulatory service.