AB150. The use of the ambulatory care model for distal radius fractures in University Hospital Limerick

Abstract

Background: The Health Service Excutive (HSE) National Model of Care for Trauma and Orthopaedics and the British Orthopaedic Association both recommend the use of an ambulatory care model for the management of distal radius fractures. The ambulatory care model recommends suitable patients should be discharged home following diagnosis and return as a planned day case admission for their definitive treatment to avoid unnecessary inpatient stays and bed blocking. We identified an issue as there is no current pathway to facilitate the ambulatory care model in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and as such we conducted this audit to identify the impact of this service deficit on patients and the health system.