Authors (including presenting author) :
YIP PL(1), CHENG CP(1), LAM KM(1), LAU CW(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Services, Tuen Mun Hospital, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
Introduction :
Despite improved safety and outcome reassurance of modern-day medicine, individuals undergoing operations will inevitably evoke anxiety and apprehension among relatives and beloved ones. The situation was highlighted during the Covid pandemic when visiting time was banned or overtly suspended. To enhance patient experience in the perioperative journey, Family link is an Artificial intelligence (AI) platform launched in NTWC since September of 2021. It aims in alleviating anxiety of patient’s family through which could make instant enquiry by making real time accessibility of operative status during surgery electronically and in the long run, this helps alleviate the pressure on nursing manpower and the health care workforces by reducing the unmeasurable interruption of phone call enquires from patients relative during patient’s operation time and could be put back onto the right tracks of patient-centred care.
Objectives :
(1) To alleviate anxiety of patient’s relative by providing real time operative status checking to patient’s relative (2) To enhance patient understanding of the surgery preparation by providing pre-operative preparation and anesthetic related information to patients (3) To studies and review the overall feedback and comment since commencement. (4) To identify any potential pitfall and shortcoming of the family link services, feedback and satisfaction survey from patients and their families
Methodology :
An QR code sheet with unique PIN is issued to patients and their relative during in Pre-Anesthetic Assessment Clinic (PAAC). By providing the unique PIN, Patients’ date of birth and gender as security measure, navigation step by step instruction, Six real time operative status and information about the preoperative and anesthetic related information, are available by logging onto the family link platform via tab or phone. Satisfaction survey conducted after utilization of family link service via QR code by return questionaire. Random sampling of patients whom have not utilized the family link platform would also be contacted for exploring the obstacle of using the platform.
Result & Outcome :
From September 2021 to December 2022, total no of 3183 patients was obtained the service. 177 questionnaire is received. 86.8% respondent agreed that the platform is clear and easy to use. 73.3% respondent agreed that the preoperative anesthetic related information can increase the awareness of anaesthesia and pre-operative preparation. 83.4% respondent agree the platform can effectively help family member to follow up the patient’s OT progress. 87.8% respondent agreed that the platform can alleviate anxiety of patient member while waiting. 89.3% respondent the services of the information platform is helpful. For the reason of not using the platform (13 out of 177 reply), 53.8% respondent reply mainly due to a short OT time or patient relative is too young or old to use AI platform. A simple small step from the able Smart OT system has greatly reduced the apprehension of family during operation and provide further reassurance to patient and also patient families.
