Utility of Mobile Apps for Video Conferencing to Follow Patients at Home After Outpatient Surgery

Abstract

Introduction:Outpatient surgery has a great opportunity to demonstrate the role of using mobile video conference (VC) postoperatively. Our patients use technology to help decision making in finding physicians. The authors aim to assess patient's perception on the use of mobile apps for VC with the surgeon and/or staff.Methods:Consenting patients completed a questionnaire of 10 questions preoperatively and postoperatively to assess the difference in opinion.Results:Overall, 120 patients completed the questionnaire preoperatively with 58% female population, 71% younger than 65 years, and 67% having a GED/higher education. Fifty-two patients had surgery with 54% female population, and 60% were younger than 65 years. All patients had mobile apps for VC with 55% using WhatsApp, 40% using Facetime, and 5% other. In person, being with a trained educator at the office was the preferred method for learning about surgical procedures. Overall, four patients contacted the surgeon directly preoperatively. After surgery, 8 of 52 patients (15%) used VC to the surgeon directly, and 37 patients used the VC with the team.Conclusion:With advances in new technology, the use of mobile video conferencing adds a new forum for communication with patients. In the outpatient surgical setting, this forum would improve patient-physician relations.

Patients Have Poor Postoperative Recall of Information Provided the Day of Surgery but Report Satisfaction With and High Use of an E-mailed Postoperative Digital Media Package

“…Pencle et al. 13 created a mobile video conference application for communication with patients perioperatively. They found more than 86% of patients directly contacted either the surgeon or the concierge team before the first postoperative visit.…”

“…The addition of digital media (i.e., video calls, recorded video message, pictures) has been shown to improve patient satisfaction and engagement. 2 , 12 , 13 , 14 Evolving technology continues to provide opportunities to improve the patient experience; however, to fully use them, we must understand what information patients find beneficial and how they use it.…”

Developing a mobile health application for wound telemonitoring: a pilot study on abdominal surgeries post-discharge care

“…Finally, 23 related articles were comprehensively surveyed for final analysis. Qualitative analysis of research-based apps showed that the common components of surgical patients' follow-up apps consist of tele-visits by examining of quality of recovery (QoR) or other indicators [ 2 , 5 , 12 , 13 , 15 , 17 , 29 – 32 , 34 – 36 , 38 , 40 – 42 , 44 , 45 ], assessing post-operative body function and pain level status by virtual analog scale (VAS) [ 2 , 12 , 15 , 17 , 29 , 32 , 36 , 40 , 41 , 44 ]; wound telemonitoring via recorded and transmitted SSI-related symptoms and images [ 2 , 5 , 13 , 17 , 19 , 29 , 35 , 36 , 40 – 43 ], teleconsultation, and patient connections with clinical staff [ 19 , 30 , 31 , 38 – 40 , 43 ], reminders and alerts [ 15 , 33 , 34 , 40 , 41 , 45 ], and patient education [ 15 , 33 , 34 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 45 ]. In most studies, fourteen [ 5 , 12 , 19 , 30 , 31 , 39 ,…”

Treatment of olecranon fractures using an intramedullary cancellous screw and suture tension band: minimum 2-year follow-up

“…Overall functional status was evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score (QuickDASH). 2 If patients were unable to undergo follow-up in the office, their elbow range of motion was assessed via digital photography 24 , 27 and the MEPS and QuickDASH questionnaires were filled out electronically. Of the 27 patients included in the study, only one patient did not attend the functional evaluation in person or electronically, although there was an electronic medical record of the other clinical variables.…”