Presenter Status

Resident/Ph.D/Post graduate (> 1 month of dedicated research time)

Abstract Type

QI

Primary Mentor

Rebecca M. Rentea

Start Date

15-5-2024 11:30 AM

End Date

15-5-2024 1:30 PM

Presentation Type

Poster-Restricted Access

Description

Problem Statement/Question:

What is the collaborative workflow and technology utilization among the members of our virtual pediatric colorectal surgery team?

Background/Project Intent (Aim Statement):

The pandemic has accelerated the transition from traditional hospital-centric to virtual distribution-based healthcare. This shift is being enabled by advances that heavily leverage the latest technologies around the utilization of collaborative technologies, remote workspaces, data analytics, home-based healthcare, and integration with electronic medical records. Parent and patient expectations, rising costs, and value-based care reimbursement models create an environment right for disruption. We sought to evaluate our virtual team's collaborative workflow and technology utilization.

Methods (include PDSA cycles):

A single institution, multidisciplinary colorectal surgical team qualitative review was performed to assess the factors influencing virtual team function and technology utilization between 2018-2022 using an anonymous survey. Conventional content analysis was conducted to analyze collected data for themes related to digital technology utilization by the members of a virtual decentralized pediatric colorectal center. Further areas for improvement of virtual team function and technology utilization were identified.

Results:

Ten (100%) respondents reported using remote technologies with the median time worked from home at 45% (IQR 25, 50) and 80% satisfaction rate. Factors influencing virtual team success included leadership (clarification of the guidelines, teambuilding), touchpoints (onboarding, milestones documentation), and technology utilization (workflow of tasks, communication etiquette). Technical issues, environmental distractions, limited access to hospital equipment, and team dynamics were major obstacles team members faced when working remotely. Providers emphasized that real-time access to staff availability, the workflow of tasks, remote work training, and reduction of technical barriers could improve the virtual team function.

Conclusions:

Workflow optimization allows for increased virtual team function and decreased hospital-centric medical care. Flexible remote workspaces with collaborative technology may be the future of healthcare. Their implementation requires the development of easy-to-use integrated platforms and reorganization of workflow for distributed care. This qualitative study identified important themes influencing the virtual team function: (1) workflow organization, (2) real-time communication between the staff members, (3) education on remote technologies utilization, and (4) work area optimization.

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May 15th, 11:30 AM May 15th, 1:30 PM

Collaborative Technology in the Implementation of a Virtual Decentralized Pediatric Colorectal Surgery Team

Problem Statement/Question:

What is the collaborative workflow and technology utilization among the members of our virtual pediatric colorectal surgery team?

Background/Project Intent (Aim Statement):

The pandemic has accelerated the transition from traditional hospital-centric to virtual distribution-based healthcare. This shift is being enabled by advances that heavily leverage the latest technologies around the utilization of collaborative technologies, remote workspaces, data analytics, home-based healthcare, and integration with electronic medical records. Parent and patient expectations, rising costs, and value-based care reimbursement models create an environment right for disruption. We sought to evaluate our virtual team's collaborative workflow and technology utilization.

Methods (include PDSA cycles):

A single institution, multidisciplinary colorectal surgical team qualitative review was performed to assess the factors influencing virtual team function and technology utilization between 2018-2022 using an anonymous survey. Conventional content analysis was conducted to analyze collected data for themes related to digital technology utilization by the members of a virtual decentralized pediatric colorectal center. Further areas for improvement of virtual team function and technology utilization were identified.

Results:

Ten (100%) respondents reported using remote technologies with the median time worked from home at 45% (IQR 25, 50) and 80% satisfaction rate. Factors influencing virtual team success included leadership (clarification of the guidelines, teambuilding), touchpoints (onboarding, milestones documentation), and technology utilization (workflow of tasks, communication etiquette). Technical issues, environmental distractions, limited access to hospital equipment, and team dynamics were major obstacles team members faced when working remotely. Providers emphasized that real-time access to staff availability, the workflow of tasks, remote work training, and reduction of technical barriers could improve the virtual team function.

Conclusions:

Workflow optimization allows for increased virtual team function and decreased hospital-centric medical care. Flexible remote workspaces with collaborative technology may be the future of healthcare. Their implementation requires the development of easy-to-use integrated platforms and reorganization of workflow for distributed care. This qualitative study identified important themes influencing the virtual team function: (1) workflow organization, (2) real-time communication between the staff members, (3) education on remote technologies utilization, and (4) work area optimization.