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. 2021 Jun;27(6):701-705.
doi: 10.1089/tmj.2020.0382. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Ambulatory Teleneurology COVID-19 Experience

Kelly Harper  1 , Mikayla Roof  2 , Nivan Wadhawan  2 , Ananya Terala  2 , Maxim Turchan  1 , Francesca Bagnato  1 , Raghu Upender  1 , Huong Pham  1 , Bryan Eoff  1 , David Charles  1
Affiliations

Vanderbilt University Medical Center Ambulatory Teleneurology COVID-19 Experience

Kelly Harper et al. Telemed J E Health. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Telehealth has proliferated since the 1950s, but adoption and coverage of telehealth services for the U.S. public have been slow. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the federal government has implemented temporary policy changes that removed barriers and catalyzed the unprecedented adoption of telehealth. Methods: To assess ambulatory teleneurology satisfaction, we analyzed postvisit questionnaire data from patients and clinicians who completed teleneurology visits during the COVID-19 pandemic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Neurology (VUMC). Results: From March 18 to May 8, 2020, VUMC completed 3,935 teleneurology visits. More than 97% of patients were very highly or highly confident in the telehealth care they received, whereas almost 99% of clinicians were very likely or somewhat likely to recommend telehealth to other clinicians. Conclusions: Teleneurology satisfaction at VUMC has been positive, and going forward, we must advance upon this unprecedented adoption of telehealth and never revert to former restrictive policies.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; telehealth; telemedicine; teleneurology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Vanderbilt University receives income from grants or contracts from Allergan, Ipsen, Impax, Medtronic, Merz, Pharma Two B, and Voyager for research or educational programs led by Dr. D.C. Dr. D.C. receives income from US WorldMeds and the Alliance for Patient Access for consulting services.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
New versus returning VUMC patient teleneurology satisfaction. (A) The percentage of patients who had very high, high, neutral, low, or very low confidence in the telehealth care they received in new versus returning patients. (B) The percentage of patients who had excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor satisfaction that the telehealth appointment met their medical needs. (Nreturning = 1,076; Nnew = 341). VUMC, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Neurology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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