Construction and operation of an ophthalmic day-care ward in a general hospital

Purpose: We aim to discuss the construction, operation, and prospects of ophthalmic day-care wards in general hospitals and to provide a reference for the management of ophthalmic day-care wards. Methods: Nursing staff with clinical experience were arranged to participate in the construction of ophthalmic day-care ward, including the ward layout, staff training, and management. WeChat groups were set up to promote health awareness. Clinical information was collected from patients who had ophthalmic day surgeries at our hospital between January and December 2021. All patients had standard medical procedures for admission, treatment, and health education. The incidence of adverse events, age distribution, disease types, and reasons for canceling surgeries were analyzed to evaluate the operation of ophthalmic day-care wards. Results: A total of 4,830 patients were admitted between January and December 2021. Cataract accounted for the largest proportion of disease types (89.4%). 61.45% of patients were aged between 61 and 80. No medical adverse events, such as information error, iatrogenic injury, equipment failure, and medication error occurred. Conclusion: The keys to a well-functioning ophthalmic day ward are 1. management by nursing staff with adequate clinical experience; 2. emphasis on health awareness; 3. pre-operative preparation and assessment 4, standard medical procedures for admission, treatment, and health education. Day-care wards are high-quality and low-cost, which will benefit ophthalmic patients and be a useful addition to the medical field.