Streamlining elective surgical pathways using early digital screening with complexity grading: feasibility study of a...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Patient Triage
• Digital Health Tools
• Preoperative Assessment

Background:

• Early identification of patient complexity in elective surgery is crucial for optimizing resource allocation and patient outcomes.
• Current preoperative screening processes can be lengthy, leading to delays in surgical scheduling and patient preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility, usability, and validity of a co-designed digital questionnaire for early complexity screening in elective surgery patients.
• To determine if the digital tool can improve the efficiency and accuracy of preoperative patient assessment.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods feasibility study incorporating operational data, patient interviews, and surveys.
• Evaluation of a co-designed digital questionnaire for early complexity screening.

Main Results:

• Average preoperative screening time reduced from 3-4 weeks to 3.4 days.
• 44% of 244 patients were eligible for fast-tracking to low-complexity surgical hubs.
• Nurse-led validation confirmed 100% accuracy for medium and high-complexity cases; 97% of patients completed the questionnaire unaided.

Conclusions:

• The digital questionnaire is a feasible and user-friendly tool for early complexity identification and streamlined patient triage.
• The tool shows potential for reducing surgical cancellations and facilitating timely prehabilitation.
• Further research is warranted to evaluate the clinical, operational, and health economic impacts in redesigned surgical pathways.