title: Use of a voice and video internet technology as an alternative to in-person urgent care clinic visits.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of patient-initiated online Internet urgent care visits, and to describe patient characteristics, scope of care, provider adherence to protocols, and diagnostic and therapeutic utilization. A total of 456 unique patients were seen via Internet-based technology during the study period, generating 478 consecutive total patient visits. Of the 82 patients referred for an in-person evaluation, 75 patients (91.5%) reported to the clinic as instructed. None of the 82 patients recommended for in-person evaluation required an emergency department referral, hospital admission or urgent consultative referral. We conclude that real-time online primary and urgent care visits are feasible, safe and potentially beneficial in increasing convenient access to urgent and primary care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Graduate Medical Education, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA brunettp@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Brunett
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA ZoomCare, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DiPiero
authors.affiliation: Division of Graduate Medical Education, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Division of Graduate Medical Education, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Dongseok
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: ZoomCare, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kum
authors.affiliation: Division of Graduate Medical Education, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Girard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Home telecare; telecare; telehealth; telemedicine