Reducing the pressures of outpatient care: the potential role of patient-reported outcomes

The global demand for hospital treatment exceeds capacity.The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue, leading to increased backlogs and longer wait times for patients. The amount of outpatient attendances undertaken in many settings is still below pre-pandemic levels and this, combined with delayed referrals, means that patients are facing delays in treatment and poorer health outcomes. Use of digital health technologies, notably the use of remote symptom monitoring systems based on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), may offer a solution to reduce outpatient waiting lists and tailor care to those in greatest need. Drawing on international examples, the authors explore the use of electronic PRO systems to triage clinical care. We summarise the key benefits of the approach and also highlight the challenges for implementation, which need to be addressed to promote equitable healthcare delivery.

Automated summary

The global demand for hospital treatment exceeds capacity, and the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this issue. Delayed referrals and decrease in outpatient attendances have led to longer wait times for patients. The use of digital health technologies, particularly remote symptom monitoring systems based on patient-reported outcomes, offers a solution to reduce outpatient waiting lists and provide tailored care to those in greatest need.