Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Nov 4, 2020
Date Accepted: Jan 10, 2021
Date Submitted to PubMed: Feb 2, 2021
A virtual ward model of care for patients with COVID-19
ABSTRACT
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the implementation of innovative healthcare models in preparation for an influx of patients. A virtual ward model delivers clinical care remotely to patients in isolation. We report an Australian cohort of patients with COVID-19 treated in a virtual ward.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the safety and efficacy of a virtual ward model of care for an Australian cohort of patients with COVID-19.
Methods:
A retrospective clinical audit was undertaken of 223 patients with confirmed COVID-19 treated in a virtual ward in Brisbane, Australia, from March 25 to May 15, 2020. Statistical analyses of variables associated with length of stay and hospitalisation were undertaken.
Results:
Of 223 patients, 205 (92%) recovered without need for escalation to hospital care. The median virtual ward admission length was eight days (range, 1 to 44). Eighteen (8%) patients were referred to hospital with one-third discharged after emergency department assessment. Twelve patients were admitted to hospital, four required supplemental oxygen and two required mechanical ventilation. No deaths were recorded. Factors associated with escalation to hospital care were: hypertension (OR 3.6, CI 1.28-9.87, P=0.01), sputum production (OR 5.2, CI 1.74-15.49, P=0.001) or arthralgia (OR 3.8, CI 1.21-11.71, P=0.02) at illness onset and polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold of 20 or less on diagnostic nasopharyngeal swab (OR 5.0, CI 1.25-19.63, P=0.02).
Conclusions:
Our results suggest a virtual ward model of care to treat patients with COVID-19 is safe and efficacious. A small number of patients required escalation to hospital care. Further studies are recommended to validate this model of care.
Citation
Request queued. Please wait while the file is being generated. It may take some time.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.