812 Audit on Chest Drain Clinic: Are We Utilising the Service Effectively?

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Aim The chest drain clinic service, under the Department of Thoracic Surgery, designed to provide follow-ups for patients discharged with ambulatory chest drains. This audit assessed the clinic's effectiveness in ensuring safety, regular reviews, and its impact on costs and bed utilization. Method A retrospective analysis of a one-year period identified 97 patients discharged home with ambulatory chest drains. Patients progress and complications assessed throughout their follow-ups. In addition, number of bed days saved along with service costs from the day of discharge to the day of chest drain removal were calculated and analysed. Results The study found that 64% of these patients required only one clinic visit before their drains were removed. This led to 60% reduction in inpatient admissions, resulting in a remarkable total of 1,038 saved bed days. There was substantial cost savings, totalling approximately £361,200 over the study period. These savings allowed the service to care for an additional 173 inpatients, generating potential income of £1,038,000 for the trust. Furthermore, minimal number of 7.2% patients required re-admission due to complications such as pain, infection, or worsening surgical emphysema. These patients could re-enter care directly from the chest drain clinic, bypassing emergency department, thereby saving time and resources. Conclusions In summary, the chest drain follow-up clinic has demonstrated its effectiveness not only in patient safety and regular reviews but also in substantial cost savings, increased bed availability, and efficient re-admission procedures. This study highlights the significance of expanding and optimizing such services within healthcare institutions, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.