Asynchronous Virtual Patient Visits Can Streamline Workflow
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Use of asynchronous virtual visits significantly reduces doctor encounter hours.
New research published by Telemedicine and e-Health demonstrates asynchronous virtual visits by chronically ill patients can significantly reduce encounter times for doctors.
The study used a web-based patient questionnaire that focused on 10 chronic illnesses: asthma, anxiety disorders, back pain, depression, diabetes, gastro esophageal reflux disease, headaches, hypertension, obesity, and osteoarthritis. Researchers Ronald Dixon, M.D. and Latha Raos spearheaded the study, and questioned nine physicians and one nurse practitioner at a Massachusetts General Hospital ambulatory internal medicine practice site, MGH-Beacon-Hill Practice, as well as 175 adult patients.
The research team developed scripts "based on evidence-based guidelines and standard medical practices," and noted the scripts differed from typical patient portals in that they provided "the clinical content and documentation by which concrete medical decision-making is made."
As part of the study, physicians would review patient input at specific times set aside in their schedules (i.e.: asynchronous visits) and contact the patient with recommendations within one business day to continue current treatment, to schedule a follow-up phone call, video chat, or to set up a face-to-face appointment, along with any other specific instructions.
On average, patients spent 8.31 minutes completing the questionnaire and physicians spent an average of 3.62 minutes reviewing each patient's responses and making recommendations. Follow-up surveys found high satisfaction levels for both patients and physicians.
Recent research has found that telemedicine can improve healthcare delivery to specific populations. What's more, a recent EY report – "Shaping Your Telehealth Strategy" – outlined various strategies for successful telehealth programs, including conducting a needs assessment, creating a detailed comprehensive telehealth design, and a slow and careful deployment.
The EY report argued, "In enabling healthcare organization to provide 'anytime, anywhere' care to patients, operate more efficiency and cost effectively, and generate new sources of revenue, telehealth programs are an important part of the strategy to achieve these goal."
Dixon and Rao’s current study have reached similar conclusions. "The present study suggests that once patients and physicians are given the opportunity to use an alternative system of care, the experience can be a satisfying one," they said. "Making these systems adapt to the office workflow is very important to clinician satisfaction.”