OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the implementation and impact of a digital healthcare platform in the Pre-Assessment Clinic Triage (PACT) pathway for triaging high-volume low complexity (HVLC) patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, compared to standard care.

METHODS: The digital platform serves as an engagement tool for patients and healthcare staff, providing intelligent decision support to facilitate the preoperative assessment (POA) process. In the PACT pathway, early POA and patient triage occur based on medical complexity. The platform identifies medically complex patients and enables scheduling of appropriate POA, either via telephone or face-to-face appointment, before surgery.

To evaluate the impact of the digital platform, a comprehensive cost minimization analysis was conducted. A decision-analytic model was developed, taking into account various parameters such as the number of perioperative tests, the type of POA appointment, and the average length of stay (LoS). The analysis compared the digital platform with the standard care pathway, where all patients on the waiting list received face-to-face POA.

RESULTS: The economic analysis demonstrated improvements in preoperative care with the implementation of the digital platform in the PACT pathway. The decision model showed an average cost saving of £152 per patient across all metrics, except for LoS. When LoS was included, the model reported a cost saving of £769 per patient. Moreover, the platform reduced surgery cancellation rates and POA appointment cancellations, leading to better resource utilisation and further cost savings.

CONCLUSIONS: This study concludes that integrating a digital healthcare platform into the joint replacement surgery pathway is a cost-effective approach. The use of the platform in the PACT pathway facilitates early POA and appropriate triage, resulting in reduced surgery postponements, improved patient outcomes, and optimized resource utilization. The findings highlight the importance of digital solutions in streamlining preoperative assessment processes, ultimately leading to enhanced efficiency and cost savings.