Improving outpatient services: the Southampton IBD virtual clinic

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Informatics
• Patient Management

Background:

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management is complex due to its chronic, relapsing nature and the need for long-term monitoring.
• Conventional outpatient follow-up presents challenges in flexibility for patients and clinic resource allocation.
• Alternative follow-up models are being explored to improve efficiency and patient experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) virtual clinic (VC) as an alternative follow-up pathway.
• To assess the suitability of the VC for patients with stable, mild to moderate IBD.
• To determine the efficiency and patient satisfaction associated with the virtual clinic model.

Main Methods:

• Patients with established IBD (>2 years), stable for >1 year, and without primary sclerosing cholangitis were enrolled with consent.
• Annual follow-up involved sending patients blood test forms and a questionnaire prior to their appointment.
• Stable patients received management plans via letter to them and their GPs, based on reviewed blood results and database entries.

Main Results:

• The virtual clinic (VC) successfully follows 20% of the Southampton IBD cohort.
• The VC system is described as innovative, efficient, and patient-responsive for mild to moderate IBD.
• The system is well-received by patients but relies heavily on integrated IT systems and dedicated support staff.

Conclusions:

• The IBD virtual clinic (VC) provides an effective and patient-preferred method for managing stable IBD patients.
• Successful implementation requires robust IT infrastructure and dedicated clerical and nursing support.
• The VC model demonstrates potential for optimizing IBD patient follow-up and resource utilization.