Virtual Care and Emergency Department Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Patients of Family Physicians in Ontario, Canada

Article Primary Health Care

Impact of Team-Based Care on Emergency Department Use

Tara Kiran et al.

Summary: Adoption of team-based primary care may reduce ED use. Further research is needed to understand optimal team composition and roles.

ANNALS OF FAMILY MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Health Care Sciences & Services

The Abrupt Expansion of Ambulatory Telemedicine: Implications for Patient Safety

Elaine C. Khoong et al.

Summary: The rapid growth of telemedicine in ambulatory care during the COVID-19 public health emergency has affected healthcare quality and patient safety. Researchers have analyzed the impact of remote care on communication, care teams, and patient engagement, and provided recommendations for improving patient safety in telemedicine.

JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Health Care Sciences & Services

Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on diabetes health checks and prescribing for people with type 2 diabetes: a UK-wide cohort study involving 618 161 people in primary care

Matthew J. Carr et al.

Summary: The study compared the rates of health checks and prescribing in people with type 2 diabetes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. It found that rates of health checks significantly decreased in April 2020 but gradually recovered from May onward, remaining lower than historical trends. Similarly, new medication prescribing for diabetes and hypertension decreased during the pandemic period, while prescribing for new cholesterol-lowering and antiplatelet medications remained unchanged.

BMJ QUALITY & SAFETY (2022)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Telemedicine Familiarity and Post-Disaster Utilization of Emergency and Hospital Services for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions

Rachel S. C. Friedman et al.

Summary: This study found that patients who were familiar with telemedicine services before a disaster had lower rates of emergency and hospital utilization for certain ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the year following the disaster. Familiarity with telemedicine may help reduce the use of emergency and hospital services following disasters.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Primary Health Care

Associations between Patient- and Provider Level Factors, and Telemedicine Use in Family Medicine Clinics

Omolola E. Adepoju et al.

Summary: This study assessed provider- and patient-level factors associated with telemedicine use in community-based family practice clinics. Results showed that non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black patients had higher odds of using telemedicine, while uninsured individuals had lower odds of telemedicine use. Those residing in metropolitan areas or medically underserved areas had greater odds of using telemedicine. Commute time exhibited a dose-response relationship with telemedicine use.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF FAMILY MEDICINE (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Virtual care use during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on healthcare utilization in patients with chronic disease: A population-based repeated cross-sectional study

Vess Stamenova et al.

Summary: This study found that virtual care was widely adopted among patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher utilization rates compared to in-person care. Both low and high virtual care user groups experienced reduced hospitalizations and laboratory testing during the pandemic, but hospitalization volumes increased again only among high users. Virtual care had the highest adoption rates in the mental health field.

PLOS ONE (2022)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Sociodemographic differences in patient experience with primary care during COVID-19: results from a cross-sectional survey in Ontario, Canada

Payal Agarwal et al.

Summary: This study aimed to understand patients' care-seeking behaviors and their use and opinions of virtual care during the early stages of the pandemic, and to explore whether these factors varied by sociodemographic characteristics. The results showed that newcomers, individuals with lower income, and those reporting poor or fair health had lower levels of comfort and preference for virtual care. Most participants reported high levels of comfort with phone, video, and email or messaging. Further research should investigate potential barriers to virtual care and possible solutions.

BMJ OPEN (2022)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Association Between Primary Care Practice Telehealth Use and Acute Care Visits for Ambulatory Care-Sensitive Conditions During COVID-19

Kathleen Y. Li et al.

Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many primary care practices adopted telehealth in place of in-person care. However, the association between primary care practice's level of telehealth use and the rate of acute care visits for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions is uncertain.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2022)

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Review Medicine, General & Internal

Early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in-person outpatient care utilisation: a rapid review

Julien Dupraz et al.

Summary: This study aimed to assess the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on in-person outpatient care utilization worldwide. The results showed a universal decline in in-person outpatient care utilization, with variations across countries. Diagnostic and screening procedures, as well as in-person visits, were more affected.

BMJ OPEN (2022)

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Article Geriatrics & Gerontology

Factors associated with virtual care access in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Laura Liu et al.

Summary: This study revealed that older adults who are frail or lack caregiver support may face inequitable access to videoconference-based virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should focus on interventions to support this population in participating in video conference assessments.

AGE AND AGEING (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Shifts in office and virtual primary care during the early COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada

Richard H. Glazier et al.

Summary: The study found that there was a significant shift in primary care in Ontario from office to virtual care during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a 28.0% decrease in total visits. However, total visits in rural areas increased by 6.4%. The smallest declines in visits were seen among older adults and patients with higher expected health care use. Virtual care made up a significant portion of primary care physician visits, but uptake was lower among children, rural residents, and physicians with more patients.

CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Characteristics and outcomes of hospital admissions for COVID-19 and influenza in the Toronto area

Amol A. Verma et al.

Summary: In Canada, admission to hospital for COVID-19 is associated with significantly higher mortality, ICU use, and hospital length of stay compared to influenza. However, there is no significant difference in the 30-day readmission rate. Simple risk scores can accurately predict in-hospital mortality for patients with COVID-19.

CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL (2021)

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Article Health Care Sciences & Services

Rural Telemedicine Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Repeated Cross-sectional Study

Cherry Chu et al.

Summary: The study found that telemedicine adoption increased in rural and remote areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its use also increased in urban and less rural populations. Future studies should investigate the potential barriers to telemedicine use among rural patients and the impact of rural telemedicine on patient health care utilization and outcomes.

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH (2021)

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Review Health Care Sciences & Services