An Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic Service Audit: A Complete Loop

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• The British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma (BOAST) Guideline 7 sets the standard of care for UK orthopaedic fracture clinics.
• Auditing current practices against established guidelines is crucial for maintaining high standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare current fracture clinic practices with BOAST Guideline 7.
• To implement changes and re-audit to assess alignment with the standard of care.

Main Methods:

• Prospective data collection from 200 patients (100 initially, 100 post-intervention) using the SWOPS questionnaire.
• Comparison of clinic practice against BOAST Guideline 7 standards.
• Implementation of targeted improvements based on initial audit findings.

Main Results:

• Reduced waiting times from accident and emergency (A&E) to fracture clinic appointments.
• Improvements in waiting area facilities.
• Positive impact on overall patient satisfaction levels following implemented changes.

Conclusions:

• The audit identified areas for improvement in fracture clinic care.
• Implemented changes, particularly in waiting times and facilities, positively affected patient satisfaction.
• Ongoing evaluation and addressing remaining concerns are necessary for continuous quality improvement.