Volume 11 Issue 3
Evaluating the Impact of Telemedicine on Preoperative Assessment and Postoperative Care in General Surgery: A Comparative Study of Patient Outcomes and Healthcare Efficiency
1Dr Sarmud Latif Awan, 2Ali Raza, 3Mohib Ali
1Associate Professor Department of General Surgery AJK Medical College Muzaffarabad.
2PIMS, Islamabad.
3PIMS, Islamabad.
ABSTRACT:
Background:
Telemedicine has gained increasing attention in healthcare for its potential to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. This study investigated the impact of telemedicine on preoperative assessment and postoperative care in general surgery, comparing patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency with traditional in-person consultations.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether telemedicine can effectively replace or complement conventional methods in preoperative and postoperative phases, improving patient outcomes and streamlining healthcare processes in general surgery.
Methods: A comparative study was conducted with a population of 90 patients undergoing general surgery from December 2022 to December 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: one receiving telemedicine consultations and the other receiving traditional in-person consultations. Data on patient outcomes, including complication rates, readmission rates, and patient satisfaction, as well as healthcare efficiency metrics, such as consultation times and resource utilization, were collected and analyzed.
Results: The study found that telemedicine consultations for preoperative assessment and postoperative care were as effective as in-person consultations. Patients in the telemedicine group reported similar complication and readmission rates compared to the traditional group. Additionally, telemedicine consultations resulted in higher patient satisfaction due to reduced travel time and convenience. From a healthcare efficiency perspective, telemedicine significantly reduced consultation times and optimized resource utilization, demonstrating its potential to streamline surgical care processes.
Conclusion: Telemedicine proved to be a viable alternative to traditional in-person consultations for preoperative and postoperative care in general surgery. It maintained comparable patient outcomes while enhancing patient satisfaction and healthcare efficiency. These findings support the integration of telemedicine into surgical care practices to improve accessibility and operational efficiency.
Keywords: Telemedicine, Preoperative Assessment, Postoperative Care, General Surgery, Patient Outcomes, Healthcare Efficiency, Comparative Study