Digital follow-up in obstetric anaesthesia

Introduction

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in order to maintain essential operations in a socially distanced environment, many services in healthcare have undergone significant change, moving towards telemedicine solutions. This has ranged from virtual GP consultations to virtual examinations for post-graduate students. Telemedicine solutions are unlikely to provide a wholesale replacement for face-to-face patient interaction without significant deficiencies, however, they do herald new hybrid ways of working, allowing service providers to reach clients where they are.

Anaesthetic follow up for Obstetric clients who have undergone an anaesthetic intervention is a national recommendation by RCOA¹ and AAGBI/OAA². The aim of this QI project was to launch a digital follow-up survey for Obstetric clients who underwent an anaesthetic intervention which could be utilised in a busy unit where staff shortage or high clinical workload often preclude daily face-to-face follow up.  

Methods

We created a digital clients survey which is accessed by scanning a QR code. With the support of senior midwifery coordinators, large posters advertising the survey and QR code were put up in each client bay on the post-natal ward and flyers with QR codes were given to clients. Midwives reminded post-natal clients to complete the survey. We included a flyer with the QR code in discharge paperwork. The survey included an option to request a face-to face anaesthetic review.

Results

During the trial period of three weeks, 87 inpatient and discharged post-natal clients responded via the digital follow-up tool.

Discussion

Digital follow-up can provide an invaluable supplemental source of follow-up, supporting conventional follow-up methods and facilitating safe fast-track discharge.