Abstract
Purpose :
Current practice patterns for retinal detachment management no longer require urgent overnight surgical repair. As such, the need for urgent overnight ophthalmology consultation is no longer warranted. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of a ‘flashes and floaters’ triage template in decreasing non-urgent overnight ophthalmology consultation by the emergency department.
Methods :
A ‘flashes and floaters’ triage protocol was created by the department of ophthalmology and implemented by our institution’s emergency department (see image). A retrospective review of all overnight ophthalmology consults placed in November 2015, following introduction of the triage protocol, was performed.
Results :
A total of 3 after-hour acute ‘flashes and floaters’ consultations were deferred to the next clinic day. All 3 patients (100%) were diagnosed with posterior vitreous detachments. There were no retinal tears or retinal detachments.
Conclusions :
The triage of ‘flashes and floaters’ patients by use of a template decreased the number of overnight ophthalmology consults in the month that it was evaluated, without deleterious effects on patient care. Further retrospective data capture will be performed in the coming months, as the triage protocol continues to be implemented.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.