A new model to prioritize waiting lists for elective surgery under the COVID-19 pandemic pressure (original) (raw)

The COVID-19 pandemic burdens non-covid elective surgical patients by reducing service capacity, forcing extreme selection of patients most in need. Our study assesses the SWALIS- 2020 model ability to prioritize access to surgery during the highest viral outbreak peaks.A 2020 March - May feasibility-pilot study tested a software-aided, inter-hospital, multidisciplinary pathway. All specialties patients in the Genoa Surgical Departments referred for urgent elective patients were prioritized by a modified Surgical Waiting List InfoSystem (SWALIS) cumulative prioritization method (PAT-2020) based on waiting time and clinical urgency, in three subcategories: A1-15 days (certain rapid disease progression), A2-21 days (probable progression), and A3-30 days (potential progression). We have studied the model’s applicability and its ability to prioritize patients by monitoring waiting list and service performance. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11384058.Following the feasibility study (N=55 p...