Role of Virtual Ward in COVID-19 Pandemic in a developing country: Our experience of first 100 patients

Farah Naz Ansari; Abdus Salam Khan; Shayan Shahid Ansari; Zeeshan Bin Ishtiaque; Muhammad Inam Ul Haq

Abstract
Objective: To assess the role of virtual ward in COVID-19 Pandemic in a developing country and to describe our experience with first 100 patients admitted in virtual ward.
Methodology: This retrospective study is chart review of first 100 patients who presented consecutively to our service in virtual ward. The data were captured from the electronic medical record system, which was secure and password protected. We used Microsoft excel for data analysis.
Results: Out of 100 patients, there were 63 males and 37 females and with age range of 50-60 years. Majority had no comorbidities while 20% had diabetes, another 24% with cardiac disease and 4% with pulmonary disease. Off all patients, 90% were discharged from the service and 10% were admitted to the hospital. One person died during the stay in service. Feedback on the quality of service showed majority patients were satisfied with the service with the score of 4.8 on the scale of 1 to 5.
Conclusion: In pandemic era, there is increasing need for safer and coordinated care through virtual ward. It increases the level of patient's satisfaction and lowers the inpatient burden for the hospital.

Key words: Virtual ward, COVID-19, home care, telemedicine, patient satisfaction.

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