Telehealth Research, Reports and Surveys
Doximity: Health Care Providers and Patients Trust and Plan to Continue Telehealth Use (6/30) - While providing insight into the factors that affect telehealth use, a report from Doximity indicated that physicians and patients perceive telehealth positively, and most believe that it often contributes to positive outcomes.
Physician adoption highlights:
- The majority of physicians surveyed (61 percent) reported a reduction in their patient no-show rates as a result of telemedicine.
- 77 percent of physicians said they have observed either equivalent or improved patient adherence to treatment plans with telemedicine, with less than 2 percent reporting decreased adherence.
- Over 83 percent of physicians surveyed found telemedicine useful in enhancing continuity of care for patients with complex or chronic conditions, and nearly two-thirds (65 percent) said telemedicine improved communication with their patients.
- The majority of physicians surveyed (57 percent) use telemedicine to discuss lab and test results and treatment options with their patients, and this figure is even higher among oncologists (70 percent). Physicians also use telemedicine for medication management, remote patient monitoring, patient triage and urgent care.
Patient adoption highlights:
- Among patients who had a telemedicine visit within the past year, 85 percent reported their overall care was superior or equivalent with virtual care.
- 70 percent of all patients surveyed said they may be more likely to consult with a doctor in a non-emergency situation if the visit could be conducted virtually.
- 83 percent of patients who participated in a telemedicine visit in the past year reported they expect to maintain or increase their usage of telemedicine in the future.
Based on these results, researchers concluded that telehealth does and will likely continue to play an active role in health care. For additional coverage, see the press release or mHealth Intelligence.
Epic Research: Fewer In-Person Follow-Ups Associated with Telehealth Visits Than Office Visits (6/29) - Epic Research released a study that compared how follow-up rates differ for in-person visits versus telehealth visits. The study found that telehealth patients across most medical specialties are less likely to attend follow-up appointments 90 days after a visit compared to in-person appointments. Mental health, physical medicine, and rehabilitation and pain medicine had the highest in-person follow-up rates compared to telehealth visits. The findings show that telemedicine plays an important role in care delivery without requiring additional encounters from patients.
Wheel: Telemedicine Can Combat Clinician Burnout (6/29) - A significant number of health care providers report they face burnout. Despite this, clinicians are relatively optimistic about the future of virtual-first care. The survey found:
- 2 in 3 clinicians (64 percent) said treating patients in virtual-only or hybrid care settings best fits their lifestyle, despite a lack of interest in telehealth before the pandemic.
- 58 percent of clinicians believe there will eventually be a greater volume of virtual visits for primary care needs than in-person visits. Most clinicians think this is happening soon - within the next 5 years.
- A majority of clinicians (58 percent) shared they’re interested in getting licensed in more states.
For additional coverage, see MedCity News.
Virginia Telehealth Network: 2023 Benchmarking Telehealth Usage in Virginia Survey (6/29) - As part of ongoing efforts to monitor the impact of telehealth on Virginia’s patients and providers, the Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN) conducts an annual “Benchmarking Telehealth Usage in Virginia” survey of actively practicing licensed providers across the Commonwealth. The survey found that 87 percent feel confident in the quality of care they’re able to offer patients via telehealth and 80 percent of providers have seen improvements in their patients' continuity of care due to telehealth. For additional coverage, see Healthcare IT News.
Health Affairs: Building a Global Framework for Telehealth (6/27) - In the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the world has seen a significant shift toward remote health care delivery using information and communication technologies. However, scaling up digital health services, including telehealth, poses significant challenges to policy makers around the globe. In response to these challenges, researchers present a framework that aims to assist decision makers primarily in comprehending the various elements of telehealth services and streamline the reimbursement decisions.
Epic Research: ADHD Medications Prescribed at Similar Rates During Telehealth and In-Person Visits (6/27) - This study analyzed medication prescribing rates for telehealth and office visits, which found that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications were prescribed at similar rates during telehealth and in-person visits. Most initial ADHD prescriptions were for stimulant medications in both telehealth (84 percent) and office visits (87 percent) for ADHD. Prescribing rates for anti-anxiety medications within 30 days of a telehealth or office visit with patient’s first anxiety diagnosis followed similar trends. These findings suggest that, for health systems providing mental health services, providers are no more or less likely to prescribe a medication during a telehealth visit than they are during an office visit for ADHD and anxiety. Of note, this analysis does not include telehealth-only providers.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology: Efficacy, Perception, and Utilization of Pediatric Teledermatology (3/29) - A study found that telemedicine is effective for the diagnosis and treatment of multiple dermatological conditions in the pediatric community, with significant patient and provider satisfaction. The study found that diagnostic concordance between pediatric teledermatologist and in-person dermatologist varied from 70 percent to 89 percent. Teledermatology patient satisfaction was between 70 percent to 98 percent, with provider satisfaction around 95 percent. Generally, the literature suggests that diagnostic and management concordance is fairly high and validates the effectiveness of pediatric teledermatology for various dermatologic diseases. For additional coverage, see AJMC.
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