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CC BY 4.0 · ACI open 2023; 07(02): e71-e78
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776038
Research Article

Will the Doctor “See” You Now? The Development and Implementation of a Targeted Telemedicine System for Primary Care

Jeremy A. Epstein
1   Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Zoljargal Lkhagvajav
2   Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Tempest Young
1   Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Amanda Bertram
1   Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Hsin-Chieh Yeh
1   Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Casey Overby Taylor
1   Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
2   Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
3   Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was supported by Hopkins Business of Health Initiative.
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Abstract

Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a rapid adoption of telehealth. For underserved populations lacking internet access, telemedicine was accomplished by phone rather than an audio–video connection. The latter is presumed a more effective form and better approximation of an in-person visit. We sought to provide a telehealth platform to overcome barriers for underserved groups to hold video visits with their health care providers and evaluate differences between the two telehealth modalities as assessed by physicians and patients.

Methods We designed a simplified tablet solution for video visits and piloted its use among patients who otherwise would have been completing audio-only visits. Patients consented to participation and were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to continue with their scheduled phone visit (control) versus being shipped a tablet to facilitate a video visit (intervention). Participants and providers completed communication and satisfaction surveys.

Results Tablet and connectivity design features included removal of all functions but for the telemedicine program, LTE always-on wireless internet connectivity, absence of external equipment (cords chargers and keyboard), and no registration with a digital portal. In total, 18 patients were enrolled. Intervention patients with video-enabled devices compared to control patients agreed more strongly that they were satisfied with their visits (4.75/5 vs. 3.75/5, p = 0.02).

Conclusion The delivered simplified tablet solution for video visits holds promise to improve access to video visits for underserved groups. Strategies to facilitate patient acceptance of devices are needed to expand the scope and potential impact of this effort.

Keywords

telemedicine - telehealth - underserved populations - primary Care - communication - patient satisfaction - communications

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 22 December 2022

Accepted: 31 August 2023

Article published online:
18 October 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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