RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Screening success: A virtual MDT can reduce the number of patients requiring respiratory follow-up post-COVID-19 pneumonia in line with British Thoracic Society guidance
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 45
OP 50
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0124
VO 22
IS 1
A1 Rebekah Anstey
A1 Jennifer Rossdale
A1 Alexander Dereham
A1 Eleanor Peter
A1 Rey Tan
A1 Robert Mackenzie Ross
A1 Graham Robinson
A1 Tom Hartley
A1 Jay Suntharalingam
A1 Jonathan CL Rodrigues
YR 2022
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/22/1/45.abstract
AB The ongoing respiratory sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia remain unclear, and the ideal follow-up of these patients is still a work in progress. We describe our experience of using a pre-follow-up multidisciplinary team (MDT) to decide the follow-up stream in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 pneumonia.Methods We reviewed all patients with a clinico-radiological diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to hospital during a 3-month period and assigned a follow-up stream based on British Thoracic Society guidance.Results We changed the follow-up pathway in 71% (277/392) and refined the pathway in 67% (261/392) of indeterminate cases. We also created an automated process for the general practitioner to book follow-up imaging and will use this process going forward.Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of the MDT review of cases with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia prior to clinic attendance to ensure appropriate patients are followed up and to optimise utilisation of outpatient imaging and clinics.