Screening success: A virtual MDT can reduce the number of patients requiring respiratory follow-up post-COVID-19 pneumonia in line with British Thoracic Society guidance.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Anstey, Rebekah; Rossdale, Jennifer; Dereham, Alexander; Peter, Eleanor; Tan, Rey; Ross, Robert Mackenzie; Robinson, Graham; Hartley, Tom; Suntharalingam, Jay; Rodrigues, Jonathan C. L.
- Source
- Clinical Medicine. Jan2022, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p45-50. 6p.
- Subject
- *PNEUMONIA
*PATIENT aftercare
*REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction
*GLOMERULAR filtration rate
*COVID-19
*CHEST X rays
*ACQUISITION of data methodology
*VIRTUAL reality
*MEDICAL screening
*RETROSPECTIVE studies
*MEDICAL protocols
*ARTIFICIAL respiration
*HEALTH care teams
*HOSPITAL care
*PULMONARY function tests
*MEDICAL records
*PROFESSIONAL associations
*POLYMERASE chain reaction
*COVID-19 testing
*ELECTRONIC health records
- Language
- ISSN
- 1470-2118
Introduction and objectives The ongoing respiratory sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia remain unclear, and the ideal follow-up of these patients is still a work in progress. We describe our experience of using a pre-follow-up multidisciplinary team (MDT) to decide the follow-up stream in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods We reviewed all patients with a clinico-radiological diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to hospital during a 3-month period and assigned a follow-up stream based on British Thoracic Society guidance. Results We changed the follow-up pathway in 71% (277/392) and refined the pathway in 67% (261/392) of indeterminate cases. We also created an automated process for the general practitioner to book follow-up imaging and will use this process going forward. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of the MDT review of cases with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia prior to clinic attendance to ensure appropriate patients are followed up and to optimise utilisation of outpatient imaging and clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]