Cheng Suk Fun, Shaikh Amarah Ghani, Kaur Vasha
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom.
Surg Endosc. 2025 Sep 2. doi: 10.1007/s00464-025-12146-w.
The increasing demand on healthcare services, coupled with financial pressures and the need to optimise patient outcomes, has driven the exploration of innovative care models. This abstract outlines the launch of a surgical virtual ward in the United Kingdom. The virtual ward aims to provide continuous care for surgical patients following hospital discharge, allowing them to recover effectively at home under remote monitoring. This new approach aims to reduce hospital readmissions, and lower healthcare costs.
The virtual ward uses advanced wearable devices and remote monitoring systems to continuously track patients' vital signs 24 h a day. This allows healthcare providers to detect early signs of clinical deterioration and intervene promptly. Secure video consultations are used to visually assess patients, including monitoring wounds for signs of infection or poor healing. The primary objectives of the virtual ward are to reduce the length of hospital stays, promote faster recovery by managing complications early, and reduce healthcare costs through remote care.
From January 2024-February 2025, a total of 46 patients were enrolled to the surgical virtual ward. Early outcomes demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this model. The financial impact has been substantial; with an average hospital bed costing £589 per day, the virtual ward has saved approximately £91,295 in bed costs alone, underscoring the cost-efficiency of the approach.
The surgical virtual ward initiative represents a significant shift in the delivery of surgical care, offering patients the benefits of home-based recovery while maintaining high levels of clinical oversight. The model not only alleviates pressure on hospital resources but also enhances patient satisfaction and provides a cost-effective solution for healthcare systems. As the program expands, it is expected to set new standards for surgical care, with the potential to redefine patient-centred, technologically advanced healthcare in the UK.
对医疗服务需求的不断增加，再加上经济压力以及优化患者治疗效果的需求，推动了创新护理模式的探索。本摘要概述了英国一个外科虚拟病房的启用情况。该虚拟病房旨在为外科患者出院后提供持续护理，使他们在远程监测下在家中有效康复。这种新方法旨在减少医院再入院率，并降低医疗成本。
虚拟病房使用先进的可穿戴设备和远程监测系统，每天24小时持续跟踪患者的生命体征。这使医疗服务提供者能够检测到临床恶化的早期迹象并及时进行干预。安全的视频会诊用于对患者进行视觉评估，包括监测伤口是否有感染或愈合不良的迹象。虚拟病房的主要目标是缩短住院时间，通过早期处理并发症促进更快康复，并通过远程护理降低医疗成本。
从2024年1月至2025年2月，共有4位患者被纳入外科虚拟病房。早期结果证明了该模式的可行性和有效性。财务影响显著；平均每张医院病床每天成本为589英镑，仅虚拟病房就节省了约91,295英镑的床位成本，凸显了该方法的成本效益。
外科虚拟病房计划代表了外科护理提供方式的重大转变，为患者提供了在家康复的好处，同时保持高水平的临床监督。该模式不仅减轻了医院资源的压力，还提高了患者满意度，并为医疗系统提供了具有成本效益的解决方案。随着该计划的扩大，预计将为外科护理设定新标准，有可能在英国重新定义以患者为中心、技术先进的医疗保健。
