A virtual care program for outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19: a feasibility study.
Journal
CMAJ open
ISSN: 2291-0026
Titre abrégé: CMAJ Open
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 101620603
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
entrez:
25
5
2020
pubmed:
25
5
2020
medline:
25
5
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In patients who are discharged home to self-isolate while coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results are pending, there is no formal method for physician assessments or counselling to occur if the result returns positive. Our aim was to develop and test the feasibility of a virtual care program for self-isolating outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19. In preparation for this gap in health care, the COVID-19 Expansion to Outpatients (COVIDEO) program was developed at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, to provide ongoing care for outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19. As part of a feasibility study, we describe our experiences with the first 50 patients managed using this program from its inception (Mar. 1, 2020) until Mar. 27, 2020. All 50 people who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and were discharged home to self-isolation during the study period were assessed through the COVIDEO program. Thirty-two patients (64%) were assessed via the Ontario Telemedicine Network virtual care platform, and the remainder by telephone. The median time from viral swab collection to first COVIDEO program assessment was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-2) days. Among the 26 patients for whom further follow-up care through the COVIDEO program was discontinued by the end of March 2020, the median duration of virtual care was 12.5 (IQR 8.75-16) days. During the study period, 6 patients required transfer to hospital for assessment, of whom 4 required admission. We have shown that a virtual care program can be used in the management of outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19. Further studies evaluating its sustainability and impact on health outcomes are underway.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
In patients who are discharged home to self-isolate while coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test results are pending, there is no formal method for physician assessments or counselling to occur if the result returns positive. Our aim was to develop and test the feasibility of a virtual care program for self-isolating outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19.
METHODS
In preparation for this gap in health care, the COVID-19 Expansion to Outpatients (COVIDEO) program was developed at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, to provide ongoing care for outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19. As part of a feasibility study, we describe our experiences with the first 50 patients managed using this program from its inception (Mar. 1, 2020) until Mar. 27, 2020.
RESULTS
All 50 people who tested positive for COVID-19 at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and were discharged home to self-isolation during the study period were assessed through the COVIDEO program. Thirty-two patients (64%) were assessed via the Ontario Telemedicine Network virtual care platform, and the remainder by telephone. The median time from viral swab collection to first COVIDEO program assessment was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-2) days. Among the 26 patients for whom further follow-up care through the COVIDEO program was discontinued by the end of March 2020, the median duration of virtual care was 12.5 (IQR 8.75-16) days. During the study period, 6 patients required transfer to hospital for assessment, of whom 4 required admission.
INTERPRETATION
We have shown that a virtual care program can be used in the management of outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19. Further studies evaluating its sustainability and impact on health outcomes are underway.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32447283
pii: 8/2/E407
doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20200069
pmc: PMC7252690
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
E407-E413Informations de copyright
Copyright 2020, Joule Inc. or its licensors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Competing interests: None declared.
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