Enhancing the utility of virtual surgical pre-assessment. (23rd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goonasekera, Chulananda; Gammon, Nicola; Found, Phil; Sheikh, Asme; Fleming, Ian; Amoako, Derek; Nanavati, Nilesh
• Is Part Of: British journal of nursing. Volume 30:Number 17(2021)
• Page Start: 1032
• Page End: 1038
• Publication Date: 2021-09-23
• Subjects: Telephone pre-assessment -- Virtual pre-assessment -- Surgical pre-assessment -- Triage -- Patient acceptance -- Cost-benefits; Nursing -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2021.30.17.1032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-0461

Abstract

Abstract : During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual pre-assessment was introduced for all elective and semi-urgent surgeries to maintain surgical clinical services in the authors' Trust. This mainly involved telephone pre-assessments, although occasionally video technology was used. This had to be managed and maintained at a distance with little or no training or established method. This article includes experiences of staff involved in a single tertiary centre, an assessment of the pros and cons of virtual pre-assessment and concludes with a set of recommendations to enhance the utility of the service for the future.