TY  - BOOK
AU  - Felbaum, Daniel R
TI  - Implementation and Evaluation of a Smartphone Application for the Perioperative Care of Neurosurgery Patients at an Academic Medical Center: Implications for Patient Satisfaction, Surgery Cancelations, and Readmissions
PY  - 2018///
KW  - *Mobile Applications
KW  - *Neurosurgical Procedures
KW  - *Patient Compliance
KW  - *Patient Satisfaction
KW  - *Perioperative Care
KW  - Academic Medical Centers
KW  - Adult
KW  - Aged
KW  - Female
KW  - Humans
KW  - Male
KW  - Middle Aged
KW  - Patient Readmission
KW  - MedStar Washington Hospital Center
KW  - Neurosurgery
KW  - Journal Article
N2  - BACKGROUND: Smartphone applications (apps) in the health care arena are being increasingly developed with the aim of benefiting both patients and their physicians. The delivery of adequate instructions both before and after a procedure or surgery is of paramount importance in ensuring the best possible outcome for patients; CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the utility of a smartphone application in the perioperative neurosurgical care setting with regard to patient compliance and satisfaction as well as surgery cancellations and readmissions. Further study of a larger number of patients with a control group is warranted; METHODS: We prospectively accrued 56 patients undergoing routine neurosurgery procedures who subsequently downloaded the app. The median age was 54 (range 27-79). Patients were followed for successful registration and use of the app, compliance with reading instructions before and after surgery, and sending pain scores and/or wound images. The number of surgeries cancelled, postoperative complications, 30-d readmissions, and phone calls for surgery-related questions were examined; OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that app-based instructions with built-in reminders may improve patient understanding and compliance and contribute to reducing the number of surgery cancellations and postoperative complications and readmissions; RESULTS: Fifty-four of the 56 patients successfully registered, downloaded, and used the app and read and complied with instructions both before and after surgery. There were no cancelled surgeries. There was 1 postoperative complication. There were no readmissions. Eight of the 54 patients (14.8%) called the office on a single occasion for a surgery related question
UR  - https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ons/opx112
ER  -