A review of telemedicine

Procedure-Based Telehealth Utilization in General Surgery

The authors hypothesize that standardized telehealth (TH) scheduling processes will improve TH utilization without increasing adverse events. Fifty visits preimplementation and 67 visits postimplementation were audited from June 2021 to January 2022. Both leadership and frontline stakeholders were engaged to identify current workflows and potential interventions targeting outpatient elective procedures. Process mapping outlined current TH scheduling workflows. Outcomes related to TH completion, cost, and TH scheduling were collected after implementation. Preimplementation TH scheduling rate was 32%. The intervention required TH postoperative appointments to be scheduled in clinic at the time of surgery scheduling with TH being the default postsurgical appointment for a standardized list of eligible procedures. Following implementation, 95% of patients undergoing eligible procedures had TH follow-up. This provided improved access to surgical follow-up care, by reducing travel needs to the Veterans Affairs facility. Secondarily, this intervention increased clinic appointment availability and resulted in possible increased revenue for billable visits. Standardizing TH scheduling based on the procedure improves the utilization of TH resulting in improved clinic efficiency and increased revenue, without increasing adverse events.

Teledentistry for screening new patient orthodontic referrals. Part 2: GDP perception of the referral system

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate GDP opinion about a teledentistry system to screen new patient orthodontic referrals.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional questionnaire.

SAMPLE

Two hundred general dental practitioners (GDPs) were approached from Stockport, Rochdale, Oldham, Bury and Bolton in Greater Manchester, and High Peak in Derbyshire.

METHOD

A questionnaire about a teledentistry system for new orthodontic patients was developed, following interviews with eight GDPs participating in a teledentistry trial. The questionnaire was posted to another 200 GDPs who were asked questions on issues such as the efficiency of a teledentistry system; the usefulness of a teledentistry system from the patients' point of view; their view of a teledentistry system; and any concerns they had relating to security, confidentiality and consent.

RESULTS

Seventy one per cent of GDPs thought teledentistry for orthodontic referrals would be a good idea. At least 90% of responders agreed or neither agreed nor disagreed that patients would benefit from such a system. Over half of GDPs agreed or strongly agreed that there would be implications on their surgery time, expense and equipment security.

CONCLUSIONS

GDPs generally supported a teledentistry system for new patient orthodontic referrals. Although perceived patient advantages were agreed, GDPs tended to be less sure about the impact on them in terms of set-up expenses, time in the surgery and appropriate remuneration.