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November 13-14, 2019 | London, UK
ORTHOPEDICS, OSTEOPOROSIS & TRAUMA
12
th
International Conference on
Journal of Orthopaedics Trauma Surgery and
Related Research
Orthopedics 2019
November 13-14, 2019
J Orthop Trauma Surg Rel Res, Volume 14
Volume: 14 | ISSN: 1897-2276
Improving fracture clinic services and becoming compliant with BOAST 7 guidelines
with the use of Virtual Fracture Clinic
Charles Wallace
SPR Homerton Hospital, UK
T
he British Orthopedic Association recommends that patients referred to fracture clinic are reviewed within 72 hours. With
the increase in referrals and limited clinic capacity it is becoming increasingly difficult to see every referral with in a 72-hour
time frame. Some patients are waiting 2 weeks or more before they can be seen in a fracture clinic. With the aim of improving
care by seeking to meet BOAST 7 target, waiting times for fracture clinic appointments at the Homerton University Hospital
were audited prospectively against this national guideline, before virtual fracture clinic was implemented and 6 weeks after
the implementation of virtual fracture clinic at our hospital. Virtual fracture clinic is where an Orthopedic consultant reviews a
patient’s x-rays and A&E documentation and decides if that patients’ needs to be seen in a face to face fracture clinic to discuss
operative vs. non-operative management of their injury or if a treatment plan can be delivered without the patient having to come
back to hospital.
Materials and methods
: The study was conducted as a prospective closed-loop audit in which the second cycle took place after
the implementation of the new virtual fracture clinic service.
Results
: The first cycle showed a non-compliant waiting time with only 18% of patients being seen within 72 hours. Following
the implementation of virtual fracture clinic, 84% of all patients were reviewed within 72 hours.
Discussion
: The improvement in performance was delivered with no increase in the clinic’s capacity. Virtual fracture clinic eased
the clinic’s capacity by avoiding overbookings and oversubscribing of patients and more than 80% of patients were seen within
72 hours.
Conclusion
: Virtual fracture clinic delivered a significant
reduction in waiting times. Virtual fracture clinic has only just been
implemented at the Homerton University Hospital and hopefully at
the next audit we will be 100% compliant with the BOA BOAST 7
Guideline. We would recommend that virtual fracture clinics being
rolled out in Orthopedic departments in all hospitals which have
Orthopedic services.
Biography
Charles Wallace currently works at the Homerton Hospital as a Specialist Registrar in Trauma and Orthopedics. He is dedicated to
quality improvement projects and being a part of NHS Improvement.
charlesnwallace@gmail.com