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Telehealth model of care for outpatient inflammatory bowel disease care in the setting of the COVID ‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Shah Rushab,
Wright Emily,
Tambakis George,
Holmes Jacinta,
Thompson Alexander,
Connell William,
Lust Mark,
Niewiadomski Ola,
Kamm Michael,
Basnayake Chamara,
Ding John
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.15168
Subject(s) - telehealth , medicine , attendance , pandemic , absenteeism , outpatient clinic , family medicine , inflammatory bowel disease , telemedicine , referral , ambulatory care , disease , covid-19 , emergency medicine , health care , infectious disease (medical specialty) , management , economics , economic growth
Background Advances in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) monitoring, greater number of available treatments and a shift towards tight disease control, IBD care has become more dynamic with regular follow ups. Aims We assessed the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on outpatient IBD patient care at a tertiary centre in Melbourne. More specifically, we assessed patient satisfaction with a telehealth model of care, failure to attend rates at IBD clinics and work absenteeism prior to and during the pandemic. Methods We conducted a retrospective, qualitative analysis to assess our aims through an online survey. We invited patients who attended an IBD outpatient clinic from April to June 2020 to participate. This study was conducted at a single, tertiary referral hospital in Melbourne. The key data points that we analysed were patient satisfaction with a telehealth model of care and the effect of telehealth clinics on work absenteeism. Results One hundred and nineteen (88.1%) patients were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the care received in the telehealth clinic. Eighty‐four (60.4%) patients reported needing to take time off work to attend a face‐to‐face appointment, compared to 29 (20.9%) patients who needed to take time off work to attend telehealth appointments ( P < 0.001). Clinic non‐attendance rates were similar prior to and during the pandemic with rates of 11.4% and 10.4% respectively ( P = 0.840). Conclusions Patients report high levels of satisfaction with a telehealth model of care during the COVID‐19 pandemic, with clinic attendance rates not being affected. Telehealth appointments significantly reduced work absenteeism when compared to traditional face‐to‐face clinics.