Follow Up Visits After Surgery Reduced by App Usage

A new clinical trial published in JAMA shows promising results.

Costs and Consequences of Early Hospital Discharge After Major Inpatient Surgery in Older Adults

Question

For patients undergoing ambulatory surgery, can follow-up care via a mobile app avert in-person visits compared with conventional, in-person follow-up care during the first 30 days after the operation?

Findings

In this randomized clinical trial of 65 patients, those who used the mobile app attended fewer in-person visits for follow-up care during the first 30 days after the operation than patients in the in-person follow-up care group. This difference was statistically significant.

Meaning

Follow-up care delivered via a mobile app can be used to avert in-person visits following ambulatory surgery.