<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> A Choosing Wisely campaign (CWC) was implemented at King Khalid General Hospital in the Hafr Albatin region of Saudi Arabia to reduce unnecessary overuse of medical services. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the campaign on reducing three specifically targeted services. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The study followed a quasi-experimental pre-post design at the King Khalid General Hospital. The population included all hospital encounters with patients visiting the hospital from October 2019 to January 2020 (preintervention phase) and those visiting during February 2020 (postintervention phase). The collected variables included: the number of patient encounters where creatine kinase-myocardial band analyses was performed, the results of creatine kinase-myocardial band analyses performed, the number of patient encounters where brain computed tomography scans was performed, results of the performed brain computed tomography scans, and the number of patient encounters where amoxicillin clavulanic acid was prescribed. Relative risks were calculated to compare the proportions of the pre- and postintervention periods. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Our results showed a reduction in the use of three unnecessary services following the implementation of the CWC coupled with improved diagnostic yield. Postintervention, the proportion of patient encounters where creatine kinase-myocardial band analyses were performed declined from 7.1% to 6% (relative risk: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.78–0.91), and the proportion of creatine kinase-myocardial band analyses that yielded a result suggestive of acute myocardial infarction increased from 27.2% to 45.5% (relative risk: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.5–1.8). The proportion of patient encounters where brain computed tomography scans were performed declined from 12.4% to 9.3% (relative risk: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67–0.83), and the proportion of brain computed tomography scans that yielded abnormal results increased from 22.4% to 37.1% (relative risk: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.4–1.9). The proportion of patient encounters where amoxicillin clavulanic acid was prescribed declined from 79.5% to 54.6% (relative risk: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.67–0.69). <b><i>Discussion/Conclusions:</i></b> There was a reduction in the use of three unnecessary services following the implementation of CWC coupled with improved diagnostic yield. Based on these preliminary results, we recommend continuing with the CWC and conducting more robust studies to overcome the limitations of this current study and to assess the long-term effects of the CWC.

Background: The fight against COVID-19 appears to extend beyond screening and treatment of acute diseases to its medium- and long-term health consequences. Little is known about the epidemiology and the determinants of developing post-COVID-19 conditions (PCCs) among children. The aims of this study were to explore and determine the prevalence of PCCs among three age groups (children and adolescents, adults, and the elderly), and study the predictors of participants’ return to their pre-COVID-19 health status among COVID-19 patients at least four weeks after they got sick, from February to 15 July 2022. Methods: This comparison survey study targeted 12,121 COVID-19 patients who fulfilled the selection criteria from the national register system and received a virtual assessment from the Medical Consultation Call Center (937), which was conducted by a well-trained family physician using a validated, well-structured assessment tool. The collected data were coded and analyzed using appropriate tests. Results: Out of the 12,121 recovered COVID-19 patients who received the virtual assessment calls, only 5909 (48.8%) agreed and completed the assessment. The majority of participants (4973, or 84.2%) reported no PCCs. The most common PCCs among young people were a cough, dyspnea, fatigue, and loss of appetite or weight loss, while among the elderly they were a cough, dyspnea, fatigue, stomachaches, poor concentration, sleep disturbance, and recurrent fever. Most post-COVID-19 cases require nothing more than reassurance and health education as only 384 (6.5%) required referral to primary health care centers (PHCCs.) The severity of COVID-19 infection, age group, sex, vaccination status, and body mass index were significant predictors for returning to the pre-infection health status and the required referral was significantly related to many factors. Conclusions: The comparison of children, adults, and the elderly with regard to the acute and post-COVID-19 conditions in Saudi Arabia in terms of the clinical health assessment and the required management plans showed significant differences.

Background: Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors’ Program was initiated by the Saudi Ministry of Health to address issues of sustainable supply of healthcare professionals in the whole country and in remote areas in particular. Objective: This study aimed to describe the experience of the Saudi Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors’ Program, the undertaken reform steps and the program outputs. Methods: We conducted a case study and reviewed documents of the Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors’ Program to obtain data about the program’s development and steps of reform. We also extracted data about the number of different types of temporary contracts, the program budget and the healthcare professionals registered on the “VISITORs” platform. Results: Scope of the Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors’ Program had widened from contracting physicians from outside Saudi Arabia to include healthcare professionals from inside the country. The program’s reform efforts included: formation of a governing central committee, development of guidelines, adoption of decentralized implementation system and modified budget release system, development of electronic staff bank and e-recruitment system and the introduction of virtual healthcare under the scope of the program. During the program evolution the number of temporary contracts has increased steadily, specifically the more efficient part-time contract variety, the contracts with physicians with rare sub-specialties, and contracts with Saudi healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Reform undertaken in the Saudi Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors’ Program ensures needs-based recruitment, efficient use of resources, and supply of staff of verified quality

Background: Adequate supply of health workforce with proper skills is essential to deliver appropriate health services in normal times and during disasters. Objective: To describe the role of the Saudi Temporary Contracting and Visiting Doctors Program in the provision of critical care during COVID-19 pandemic, and in the clearance of the surgical backlog thereafter. Methods: We reviewed reports of General Directorate of Health Services and Saudi Ministry of Health annual statistical books to obtain the following data: number of temporary healthcare professionals contracted from 2019 to 2022; number of intensive care unit beds before and during COVID-19 pandemic; volume of elective surgeries before, during and after COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In 2020, intensive care unit beds increased from 6341 to 9306 in governmental hospitals in response to COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 3539 temporary healthcare professionals were recruited from April to August 2020 to contribute towards staffing the added beds. During the recovery period from COVID-19 pandemic, 4322 and 4917 temporary health care professionals were recruited in 2021and 2022 respectively. Elective surgeries volume increased from 5074 in September 2020 to 17533 in September 2021 to 26242 in September 2022, surpassing the volume of surgeries in pre-COVID-19 period. Conclusions: In response to COVID-19 pandemic, and through the existing temporary contracting program, the Saudi Ministry of Health was able to recruit temporary staff of verified credentials in a timely manner, to supplement the existing staff, for activation of the newly added intensive care unit beds, and for clearing the resulting surgical backlog.