Abstract
Background and objectives: Ambulatory (outpatient) health care organizations continue to respond to the COVID-19 global pandemic using an array of initiatives to provide a continuity of care for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. The purpose of this study is to systematically identify the facilitators and barriers experienced by outpatient health care organizations in an effort to maintain effective and efficient patient throughput during the pandemic. Materials and methods: This study systematically reviewed articles focused on initiatives taken by ambulatory care organizations to maintain optimal outpatient throughput levels while balancing pandemic precautions, published during 2020. Results: Among the 30 articles that met the inclusion criteria, three initiatives healthcare organizations have taken to maintain throughput were identified: the use (and enhanced use) of telehealth, protocol development, and health care provider training. The research team also identified three barriers to patient throughput: lack of telehealth, lack of resources, and overall lack of knowledge. Conclusions: To maintain patient throughput during the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations need to develop strategies such as the use of virtual consultation and follow-up, new guidelines to move patients along the care delivery value-chain, and ongoing training of providers. Additionally, the availability of required technology for telehealth, availability of resources, and adequate knowledge are vital for continuous patient throughput to ensure continuity of care during a pandemic.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) and was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020
The objective of this study is to systematically review the strategies that outpatient healthcare organizations have adopted to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient throughput and underlying constructs related to patient throughput
Patient care processes and related public health disease precautions have changed to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) and was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Health care organizations and their providers often delay the provision of care for non-COVID-19 patients to accommodate COVID-19 patients and to help control the spread of the virus within their respective healthcare facilities. This unexpected and rapid spread of the disease has strained healthcare organizations due to the lack of necessary resources to provide adequate care for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Results: Among the 30 articles that met the inclusion criteria, three initiatives healthcare organizations have taken to maintain throughput were identified: the use (and enhanced use) of telehealth, protocol development, and health care provider training. The availability of required technology for telehealth, availability of resources, and adequate knowledge are vital for continuous patient throughput to ensure continuity of care during a pandemic
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