Evaluation of a clinical video telehealth pain management clinic.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this project were to evaluate patient satisfaction with the clinical video telehealth (CVT) pain management clinic, and to evaluate possible benefits of this clinic.


METHODS
Data collected included the distance from the patient's home to the main Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center, the distance from the patient's home to the community based outpatient clinic (CBOC), travel distance saved for the patient, and travel pay status. Following CVT clinic appointments patients were asked to complete a written feedback assessment to evaluate patient satisfaction. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.


RESULTS
Veterans saved 8,981 miles in travel distance, and the VA saved $2,317.51 due to averted travel reimbursement. There was a 90% satisfaction rate with the CVT pain management clinic services, and 90% of patients agreed that they would recommend telehealth to other veterans.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, patients are satisfied with the CVT pain management clinic. Furthermore, the substantial miles saved for the patients, as well as the cost savings for the VA, indicates that this service has tangible benefits. As this clinic continues to operate, it can be expected that miles saved for patients and cost savings for the VA will continue to grow.
Lauren
L
Desko
Mitchell
M
Nazario
D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018710:Pain Clinics / Q000191:economics; D059408:Pain Management / Q000191:economics; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics; D014195:Travel / Q000191:economics; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
ambulatory care; clinical pharmacy; pain; pain management; patient satisfaction; telehealth