Feasibility Study on Leeds Virtual Emergency Care Pathway

New Approach to Emergency Care Being Evaluated

A study is underway at Leeds Teaching Hospitals to assess the feasibility and safety of a Virtual Emergency Care Pathway (VECP) for managing low-risk emergency patients. The pathway aims to provide an alternative to the traditional emergency department (ED) stay by allowing certain patients to be discharged home following initial assessment and investigations, with remote follow-up by senior clinicians.

Study Design and Objectives

The VECP involves an initial nurse-led assessment and diagnostic tests in the ED. Patients deemed eligible for the pathway are discharged home and receive a telephone review by a senior doctor the following day. The study compares this virtual care model against the current standard care pathway, focusing on several key measures:

• Total time patients spend in the emergency department
• Suitability of patients for the virtual care pathway
• Clinician time required for both pathways
• Costs associated with each approach
• Need for any additional follow-up care

Potential Benefits and Goals

If proven successful, the VECP could help reduce crowding in emergency departments by safely managing appropriate cases remotely. This may improve patient experience by minimising time spent in hospital and allowing quicker access to senior clinician input. Additionally, the model could support more efficient use of NHS resources by focusing ED capacity on more urgent cases.

Research Team

The study is led by Dr Najeeb Rahman, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, with co-researchers including Dr Charles Carse and Dr Muhammed Pat (full details not provided).

This feasibility study represents an innovative approach to emergency care delivery, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve patient pathways and resource utilisation within the NHS.

Source: Leeds Hospitals Charity