Description
The presentation, led by Vikas Khanduja, focuses on the clinical prioritization of hip surgery in the context of increasing orthopaedic waiting lists, particularly exacerbated by recent challenges in healthcare delivery. Khanduja begins with an overview of the logistical difficulties facing surgical services and highlights the variability in service delivery across different centers. He emphasizes the importance of equitable patient treatment and the need for prioritization based on the severity of conditions.
The presentation references guidelines from the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations and the Royal College of Surgeons, which outline levels of priority for surgical interventions, ranging from emergency cases requiring immediate attention (priority 1a) to elective procedures that can be delayed for an extended period (priority 4). Khanduja acknowledges limitations in these guidelines, particularly regarding the hip surgery domain, and introduces a new study aimed at developing comprehensive prioritization guidelines specifically tailored for hip procedures.
To create these guidelines, Khanduja utilizes the Delphi method, a consensus-building technique designed to gather expert opinions in anonymity, ensuring a fair evaluation process without dominance from more vocal participants. The study involves multiple rounds of questionnaires to reach a 70% consensus among invited experts, focusing on criteria like years of experience, publications, and specific surgical performance. The findings reveal key indications for timely surgical interventions and establish a framework that provides clarity around procedure prioritization.
Khanduja concludes by underscoring the significance of the developed guidelines in standardizing prioritization processes for hip surgery amidst ongoing challenges, aiming to be a valuable resource for surgeons and healthcare professionals.