Post-COVID-19 syndrome risk factors and further use of health services in East England.

Post-COVID syndrome, defined as symptoms persisting for more than twelve weeks after the diagnosis of COVID-19, has been recognised as a new clinical entity in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study was conducted to characterise the burden and predictors for post-COVID-19 syndrome in the local population. It was a community-based web-survey study conducted in Norfolk, East England, UK.

TraumaLink: A Community-Based First-Responder System for Traffic Injury Victims in Bangladesh.

Introduction: Road traffic injuries are a rapidly growing epidemic in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, many countries lack formal prehospital emergency medical services, often leaving victims without access to first aid when it can be most effective in preventing death or disability.

Methods: To address the lack of a dedicated prehospital emergency medical system in Bangladesh, we developed TraumaLink, a community-based network of volunteer first responders for traffic injury victims.

Implementation of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for perioperative risk assessment and management: an interrupted time series study.

Purpose: The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) guidelines for patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery address the lack of standardized management for patients at risk of perioperative cardiovascular complications. Our interdisciplinary group evaluated the implementation of these guidelines.

Methods: We used an interrupted time series design to evaluate the effect of implementation of the CCS guidelines, using routinely collected hospital data.

Postoperative Home Monitoring After Joint Replacement: Retrospective Outcome Study Comparing Cases With Matched Historical Controls.

Background: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients undergoing postoperative home monitoring (POHM) following elective primary hip or knee replacements.

Objective: The objectives of our study were to compare the cost per patient, readmissions rate, emergency room visits, and mortality within 30 days to the historical standard of care using descriptive analysis.

Methods: After Research Ethics Board approval, patients who were enrolled and had completed a POHM study were individually matched to historical controls by age, American Society of Anesthesiology class, and procedure at a ratio 1:2.

Postoperative Home Monitoring After Joint Replacement: Feasibility Study.

Background: We conducted a prospective observational study of patients undergoing elective primary hip or knee replacements to examine the feasibility of a postoperative home monitoring system as transitional care to support patients following their surgery in real time.

Objective: The primary outcome was the mean percentage of successful wireless transmissions from home of blood pressure levels, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, and pain scores until postoperative day 4 with a feasibility target of ≥90%.

Methods: Patients with an expected length of stay ≤1 day, age 18-80 years, Revised Cardiac Risk Index ≤ class 2, and caretakers willing to assist at home were eligible.

Outpatient unicompartment knee arthroplasty with indwelling femoral nerve catheter.

Contemporary multimodal anesthesia regimens allow the performance of unicompartment knee arthroplasty (UKA) on an outpatient basis. Our initial pilot experience is presented using a continuous femoral nerve block as an adjunct for 24 patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiology class 1 (14 men, 10 women; median age, 56 years; range, 46-72 years). After minimally invasive UKA, patients documented their pain and oral medication use while at home for the first 5 days.

From skepticism to engagement.

WellStar Kennestone Hospital's patient flow improvement initiative is a case study in engaging physicians in a collaborative effort that benefits both the physicians and the hospital. Kennestone's success was in large part due to the active participation of physician leaders on the committee charged with leading the project. The initiative provides a lesson for hospitals looking to collaborate with physicians in meeting reform's mandate for the highest-quality care delivered with the highest level of efficiency at the lowest possible cost.

Improving patient flow in the cath lab.

Key steps that led to Kennestone Hospital's success in improving patient flow in the cath lab included: Developing an urgency classification system for patients. Creating a more accurate scheduling system to increase throughput and efficiency. Establishing a project team.