PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - James Tomlinson
AU  - Selina Khan
AU  - Georgina Page
TI  - Incorporating SPACES recommendations to the COVID-19 ward care approach at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital
AID  - 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0613
DP  - 2020 Oct 16
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - clinmed.2020-0613
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2020/10/09/clinmed.2020-0613.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/early/2020/10/09/clinmed.2020-0613.full
AB  - The British Thoracic Society have published SPACES (Sharing Patient Assessments Cuts Exposure for Staff) guidance recommending the use of telecommunications as a means of inpatient clinical assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this audit was to reduce face-to-face exposure time during inpatient care of patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 using a telecommunications-based approach. 76 patients were included in the audit. 46 patients were included in cycle 1, which measured the average face-to-face time for clinical consultation per patient. 30 patients were included in cycle 2, whereby history-taking was conductedusing telecommunications and, if required, face-to-face physical examination.Average face-to-face exposure time was reduced to a median of 0 seconds (IQR 0–146.3 seconds) in the telecommunications group, from a median of 312.5 seconds (IQR 178.8–442.3 seconds) in the comparator group (p<0.0001). Patient satisfaction was high with individuals' responses revealing a perception of improved safety by maintaining social distancing. No adverse events were noted.The audit confirms telecommunications can be integrated successfully into the daily inpatient ward round structure, reducing face-to-face exposure time while maintaining patient satisfaction and safety.