One-Year Review of Novel "Virtual" Pneumonia Follow-Up Clinic a Decade From Inception

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Pneumonia follow-up is crucial for detecting malignancies and complications.
• A virtual pneumonia clinic (VPC) was established in 2013 to manage outpatient load remotely.
• This study evaluates the VPC's performance a decade after its implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical efficacy and operational efficiency of a virtual pneumonia clinic (VPC).
• To analyze patient outcomes, referral patterns, and resource utilization over a 12-month period.
• To assess the VPC's long-term sustainability and potential for replication.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 891 patient referrals to the VPC (January 2022 - January 2023).
• Data collected included demographics, referral source, imaging outcomes, time to follow-up, and diagnoses.
• Patients stratified by age and smoking status; outcomes like attendance and residual abnormalities analyzed.

Main Results:

• 891 patients referred, a threefold increase since inception.
• 78.0% attended follow-up chest X-rays (CXRs); abnormalities found in 6.6% of attendees.
• Consultant time reduced by 92% with an estimated £200 per-patient cost saving.

Conclusions:

• The VPC model demonstrates clinical efficacy and operational efficiency.
• It offers a scalable, sustainable approach to post-pneumonia care, combining vigilance with efficiency.
• Findings support VPC replication in other healthcare systems to enhance post-discharge follow-up and manage resources.