Authors (including presenting author) :
HUI Wai Hung Dicky, APPT, C H SIU, RPT, M K FU, RPT, P H CHOW, RPT, M L KWOK, SPT, W K MAN, DM
Affiliation :
Department of Physiotherapy, Caritas Medical Centre, KWC
Keyword 1: :
Physiotherapy Telehealth Service
Keyword 2: :
Post-operative
Keyword 3: :
Enhanced Recovery
Introduction :
The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program focuses on improving surgical outcomes and enhancing patient collaboration before, during, and after surgery in a physiotherapy outpatient setting. Patients with total knee replacement (TKR) who are recruited to the ERAS program are typically discharged from the hospital within 3–5 days after surgery. However, due to mobility limitations and transportation difficulties, the patients usually received their first post-operative outpatient physiotherapy treatment on post-operative day 14. To bridge this service gap, post-operative telehealth services have been integrated into the ERAS program and have been in use since January 2024.
Objectives :
1.To optimize the ERAS program for patients with TKR through the post-operative telehealth service. 2.To reduce access barriers to physiotherapy services for post-operative patients.
Methodology :
Patients with TKR enrolled in the ERAS program who installed the “HA Go” application were recruited for the post-operative telehealth service. Before the first in-person post-operative physiotherapy session, physiotherapists provided telehealth service via “HA Go” after the patient was discharged from the hospital following surgery. The service included physical examinations, post-operative complication screenings, edema control advices and post-operative exercise prescriptions. After completing the telehealth session, the patients were surveyed regarding their satisfaction and overall experience. Additionally, the number of days patients waited for their first physiotherapy session after discharge was compared between those in the post-operative telehealth service and those following the conventional ERAS pathway.
Result & Outcome :
Ten ERAS patients with a mean age of 71 years were recruited into the post-operative telehealth service. The addition of telehealth service significantly reduced the average waiting time for the first physiotherapy session after hospital discharge—from 10 days in the conventional ERAS program to just 4 days, marking a 6-day reduction. Overall, the telehealth service received a high level of satisfaction with a mean score of 8.9 out of 10. Furthermore, Patients also gave high ratings across five additional aspects of the survey: 1. Convenience of using the HAGO (7.7/10), 2. Smooth communication with healthcare professionals (9.1/10), 3. Professionalism and service attitude of healthcare professionals (9.6/10), 4. Telehealth’s ability to reduce challenges of follow up visits (9.6/10), and 5. Trust and sense of security in telehealth (9.0/10). Conclusion: Integrating post-operative telehealth service into the conventional ERAS program effectively reduces the waiting time for the first physiotherapy session after hospital discharge and minimizes barriers to accessing physiotherapy services. Moreover, the majority of patients are highly satisfied with this innovative mode of service delivery.
