Document Detail


The Anesthesia Preoperative Evaluation Clinic (APEC): a prospective randomized controlled trial assessing impact on consultation time, direct costs, patient education and satisfaction with anesthesia care.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20613689     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
AIM: Anesthetic preoperative evaluation clinics (APECs) are relatively new institutions. Although cost effective, APECs have not been universally adopted in Europe. The aim of this study was to compare preoperative anesthetic assessment in wards with an APEC, assessing time, information gain, patient satisfaction and secondary costs.
METHODS: Two hundred and seven inpatients were randomized to be assessed at the APEC or on the ward by the same two senior anesthetists. The outcomes measured were the length of time for each consultation, the amount of information passed on to patients and the level of patient satisfaction. The consultation time was used to calculate impact on direct costs. A multivariate analysis was conducted to detect confounding variables.
RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were seen in the APEC, and 78 were seen on the ward. The total time for the consultation was shorter for the APEC (mean 8.4 minutes [P<0.01]), and we calculated savings of 6.4 Euro per patient. More information was passed on to the patients seen in the APEC (P<0.01). The general satisfaction scores were comparable between groups. A multivariate analysis found that the consultation time was significantly influenced by the type of anesthesia, the magnitude of the operation and the location of the consultation. Gain in information was significantly influenced by age, education and the location of the visit.
CONCLUSION: The APEC reduced consultation times and costs and had a positive impact on patient education. The cost savings are related to personnel costs and, therefore, are independent of other potential savings of an APEC, whereas global patient satisfaction remains unaltered.
Authors:
J H Schiff; S Frankenhauser; M Pritsch; S A Fornaschon; S A Snyder-Ramos; C Heal; K Schmidt; E Martin; B W Böttiger; J Motsch
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Minerva anestesiologica     Volume:  76     ISSN:  1827-1596     ISO Abbreviation:  Minerva Anestesiol     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-08     Completed Date:  2010-12-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375272     Medline TA:  Minerva Anestesiol     Country:  Italy    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  491-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany. janschiff@hotmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anesthesia*
Direct Service Costs*
Female
Hospital Departments
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Education as Topic*
Patient Satisfaction*
Preoperative Care / economics*,  standards*
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Minerva Anestesiol. 2010 Jul;76(7):475-6   [PMID:  20613686 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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