Presenter Status
Fellow
Abstract Type
QI
Primary Mentor
Rebecca Rentea MD
Start Date
10-5-2021 11:30 AM
End Date
10-5-2021 1:30 PM
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Description
Purpose: Pediatric colorectal problems require complex multidisciplinary care. The COVID-19 health crisis has substantially shifted how this healthcare delivery can safely take place. We sought to track the characteristics of in-person (IP) and telehealth (TH) visits and subsequent satisfaction and utilization in this quality improvement project.
Methods: We present the multidisciplinary clinic experience from October 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 in which patient volume, visit time length, patient satisfaction survey results, and frequencies of colorectal diagnoses seen before (October 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020) and during the present pandemic (February 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020). Microsoft Teams virtual meeting software was used for telehealth visits. The multidisciplinary clinic included colorectal surgery, urology, gynecology, gastroenterology, psychology, nutrition, and social work. The time between visits were spaced to avoid crowded waiting rooms, and telehealth visits booked in-between in-person visits. To facilitate communication between different providers and families, a unique secure electronic meeting link was created.
Results: A total of 383 patient visits were performed in the timeframe. The median patient age was 7.3 years (IQR 4-13). Before the pandemic, 152 (100%) in-person visits were performed. During the pandemic, 87 (37.7%) telehealth visits and 144 (62.3%) in-person visits were performed (Table 1). Seventy-four visits were interdisciplinary clinic visits, 17 of these using the telehealth platform. The median length of each telehealth visit was 25 minutes (IQR 15.5-30) while the median length of in-person visits was 45 minutes (IQR 30-45). Prior to the pandemic, the baseline median length of an in-person visit was 45 minutes (IQR 40-50).
Conclusion: Our experience shows MDC follow-up visits on a telehealth platform can be performed with efficiency and similar patient satisfaction as in-person visits. As the pandemic evolves and the telehealth platform becomes more accessible for patients and their families, a prospect for convenient, efficient, and safe healthcare delivery for this complex patient population exists.
MeSH Keywords
Colorectal; COVID-19; telehealth; quality improvement; Hirschsprung disease; anorectal malformation; cloaca; pediatric surgery
Leveraging collaboration in pediatric multidisciplinary colorectal care using a telehealth platform
Purpose: Pediatric colorectal problems require complex multidisciplinary care. The COVID-19 health crisis has substantially shifted how this healthcare delivery can safely take place. We sought to track the characteristics of in-person (IP) and telehealth (TH) visits and subsequent satisfaction and utilization in this quality improvement project.
Methods: We present the multidisciplinary clinic experience from October 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020 in which patient volume, visit time length, patient satisfaction survey results, and frequencies of colorectal diagnoses seen before (October 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020) and during the present pandemic (February 1, 2020 through August 31, 2020). Microsoft Teams virtual meeting software was used for telehealth visits. The multidisciplinary clinic included colorectal surgery, urology, gynecology, gastroenterology, psychology, nutrition, and social work. The time between visits were spaced to avoid crowded waiting rooms, and telehealth visits booked in-between in-person visits. To facilitate communication between different providers and families, a unique secure electronic meeting link was created.
Results: A total of 383 patient visits were performed in the timeframe. The median patient age was 7.3 years (IQR 4-13). Before the pandemic, 152 (100%) in-person visits were performed. During the pandemic, 87 (37.7%) telehealth visits and 144 (62.3%) in-person visits were performed (Table 1). Seventy-four visits were interdisciplinary clinic visits, 17 of these using the telehealth platform. The median length of each telehealth visit was 25 minutes (IQR 15.5-30) while the median length of in-person visits was 45 minutes (IQR 30-45). Prior to the pandemic, the baseline median length of an in-person visit was 45 minutes (IQR 40-50).
Conclusion: Our experience shows MDC follow-up visits on a telehealth platform can be performed with efficiency and similar patient satisfaction as in-person visits. As the pandemic evolves and the telehealth platform becomes more accessible for patients and their families, a prospect for convenient, efficient, and safe healthcare delivery for this complex patient population exists.
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