title: An electronic clinic for arthroplasty follow-up: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most outpatient orthopedic follow-up visits for patients who had total joint arthroplasty are routine among those with well-functioning implants. The technology and resources now exist to enable patient assessment without requiring attendance in hospital. We tested an electronic clinic for routine follow-up in a small cohort of arthroplasty patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly assigned primary arthroplasty patients scheduled for routine annual outpatient review into 2 groups: group A completed a Web-based assessment 4 weeks after the clinical assessment, whereas group B completed the Web-based assessment first. Standard clinical questionnaires were included. We also collected radiographic data and information on assessment duration and cost.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients participated in the study. The average age of participants was 58 years. There were 12 men and 8 women in each of the 2 groups. The average total time spent by patients on an outpatient visit was 115 minutes, compared with 52 minutes for the electronic assessment. Participants reported the electronic assessment to be more convenient and less costly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study supports the practical use of an electronic clinic for the follow-up of arthroplasty patients. Further studies examining the complex interaction of factors involved in patient clinics are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. woodg@kgh.kari.net
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naudie
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCalden
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bourne
mesh_terms: D001175:Arthrography; D001178:Arthroplasty; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors