Utilizing an office based laboratory (OBL) during the COVID-19 pandemic for vascular surgical patients

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated healthcare system adjustments, including patient prioritization and resource allocation.
• Urgent decision-making was required to balance immediate patient needs with the preservation of acute care resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on a single center's Office-Based Laboratory (OBL) system for prioritizing vascular patients during the pandemic.
• To assess the OBL's effectiveness in preserving acute care resources and personnel.
• To evaluate the impact of continued OBL care on surgical procedure backlogs.

Main Methods:

• Review of three months of patient data from a single center's OBL.
• Implementation of a tiered system for vascular patient prioritization.
• Analysis of OBL patient care rates compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Main Results:

• The OBL system successfully continued providing urgent care to a large intercity population at pre-pandemic rates.
• Prioritizing vascular patients in the OBL prevented an insurmountable backup of surgical procedures.
• Acute care resources and personnel were preserved by managing non-urgent cases effectively.

Conclusions:

• The OBL model proved effective in managing vascular patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Continued OBL operations prevented surgical backlogs, facilitating the resumption of elective surgeries.
• This system highlights the importance of adaptable healthcare models for maintaining essential services during public health crises.