Provincial Population and Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Provincial Population and Public Health, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Can J Public Health. 2023 Apr;114(2):207-217. doi: 10.17269/s41997-023-00748-7. Epub 2023 Feb 16.
In Alberta, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests were an important step in detecting and isolating contagious individuals throughout the pandemic. Initially, a staff member provided results to all PCR COVID-19 test clients by phone. As the number of tests increased, new approaches were essential for timely result notification.
An innovative automated IT system was introduced during the pandemic to reduce workloads and support timely result notification. At the time of the COVID-19 test booking and again following swabbing, clients had an option to consent to receive their test results via an automated text or voice message. Prior to implementation, a privacy impact assessment was approved, a pilot was undertaken, and changes to lab information systems were made.
Health administration data were used in a cost analysis to compare the unique costs associated with the novel automated IT practice (e.g., administration, integration, messages, staffing costs) and a hypothetical staff caller practice (e.g., administration, staffing costs) for negative test results. The costs of sharing 2,161,605 negative test results in 2021 were assessed. The automated IT practice demonstrated a cost savings of $6,272,495 over the staff caller practice. A follow-up analysis determined the cost savings threshold of 46,463 negative tests to break even.
Using an automated IT practice for consenting clients can be a cost-effective approach to reach clients in a timely manner during a pandemic or other instances warranting direct notification. This approach is being explored for test result notification of other communicable diseases in other contexts.
在艾伯塔省，聚合酶链反应（PCR）新冠病毒检测在整个大流行期间是发现和隔离传染性个体的重要步骤。最初，工作人员通过电话向所有 PCR 新冠病毒检测客户提供检测结果。随着检测数量的增加，需要采取新的方法来及时通知检测结果。
在大流行期间，引入了创新的自动化 IT 系统，以减轻工作量并支持及时通知检测结果。在进行新冠病毒检测预约时以及在采样后，客户可以选择通过自动短信或语音消息接收检测结果。在实施之前，进行了隐私影响评估、试点，并对实验室信息系统进行了更改。
使用健康管理数据进行成本分析，比较了新颖的自动化 IT 实践（例如，管理、集成、消息、人员配备成本）与假设的工作人员呼叫者实践（例如，管理、人员配备成本）相关的独特成本，用于阴性检测结果。评估了 2021 年分享 2161605 个阴性检测结果的成本。自动化 IT 实践比工作人员呼叫者实践节省了 6272495 美元的成本。后续分析确定了要收支平衡的 46463 个阴性检测的成本节约阈值。
在大流行期间或其他需要直接通知的情况下，使用自动化 IT 实践来征得客户同意可以是一种及时联系客户且具有成本效益的方法。正在其他背景下探索这种方法，以用于其他传染病的检测结果通知。
