Emerging Insight in the Use of an active post discharge surveillance program - a Retrospective Pilot Study.

Objectives: With smartphones being present in everyday life we have witnessed an increasing the use of applications designed for mobile communication devices that are aimed at facilitating patient engagement in different medical arenas. Such apps are meant to improve communications with patients ultimately with the hopes of improving patient care. This study aims to report on our early experiences in the utilization of an active post discharge surveillance program (APDS) usage relative to the invasiveness of the spine surgery as well as patient age and gender.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed including all patients who volunteered to use an app-based APDS between 09.01.2017 09.30.2018. The primary outcome was the number of APDS uses. Secondary outcomes were inquiries that led to a change of treatment or induced a readmission and patient satisfaction. Regression analysis was performed regarding the influence of invasiveness, age and gender on the incidence of APDS use.

Results and Conclusion: The average number of individual APDS communication was 3.6 uses with no difference between degrees of severity of invasive surgery, age or gender. Four patients of 6 who were readmitted unexpectedly (66.6%), and 4 of 7 (57.1%) patients had postoperative treatment regimen changes that were induced by APDS inquiries. Thirty-three patients (86.8%) reported being satisfied with the APDS usage. This is the first study investigating the use of an interactive APDS in patients undergoing elective spine surgery. Our data suggest that patient age, gender or invasiveness of surgery is not associated with the usage of an APDS.

Stichwörter: Active Post Discharge Surveillance, Smartphone, Apps, Mobile Applications

Publication History

Article published online:
15 October 2020