Managing Endovascular Workload during COVID-19 Outbreak-The Singapore Experience
Lawrence Han Hwee Quek1, Glenn Wei Leong Tan2, Uei Pua3
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted non-COVID-19 healthcare, including endovascular services. This study reviews a tertiary hospital
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Healthcare Management
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare resources globally.
- Timely delivery of non-COVID-19 services, like endovascular procedures, faced significant challenges.
- Maintaining essential healthcare services during a pandemic requires strategic planning and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a tertiary institution's experience in managing endovascular workload during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To assess the application of the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) triage guidelines for vascular surgery patients.
- To identify challenges and strategies for sustaining endovascular services amidst a public health crisis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of endovascular cases managed at a tertiary care center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Classification of patient acuity using the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) vascular surgery patient triage guidelines.
- Analysis of workflow modifications and resource allocation for endovascular services.
Main Results:
- The institution adapted its endovascular service management in response to pandemic-related resource constraints.
- Application of the ACS triage system guided case prioritization for vascular surgery patients.
- Specific challenges encountered in maintaining timely endovascular care were identified and addressed.
Conclusions:
- Tertiary institutions can effectively manage endovascular services during pandemics by implementing structured triage and adaptive resource management.
- The ACS patient acuity-based classification provides a valuable framework for prioritizing vascular surgery cases during public health emergencies.
- Sustaining critical non-COVID-19 healthcare services requires proactive strategies and flexibility in healthcare delivery models.
Abstract:
At the outset and during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, as valuable resources are channeled to combat the pandemic, challenges in timely delivery of non-COVID-19-related health care services such as endovascular service arise. As such, this article looks at a tertiary institution's experience in managing its endovascular workload-referenced to the American College of Surgeons' triage of vascular surgery patient acuity-based case classification.
