Care trajectories for patients utilizing electronic visits for COVID-like symptoms in a large healthcare delivery system: May 2020-December 2021

Background There is limited information about how on-line screening tools developed by integrated systems facilitated management of COVID-like illness patients. Methods Using the Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW) Electronic Health Record, we identified adult plan members who accessed online COVID-19 screening e-visits and enumerated their subsequent medical encounters, tests for SARS-CoV-2, and test outcomes. Results Between May 2020 and December 2021, members completed 55,139 e-visits, with disproportionate representation among females (65% vs. 53% in the overall membership) and members aged <45 years (61% vs. 39%). Thirty percent of patients (16,953) were managed entirely through e-visits and 70% received subsequent in-person care. The percent of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals was highest among the 1055 individuals triaged to inpatient care (17.9%), compared to 9.5% among those escalated to additional ambulatory care. Conclusions The e-visit on-line screening tool helped KPNW assist thousands of patients with COVID-19 symptoms, avoid unnecessary in-person patient encounters, and preserved KPNW infection control and pandemic surge capacity.

Automated summary

Using the Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW) Electronic Health Record, this study explores how the online screening tool facilitated the management of COVID-19 patients. It was found that 30% of patients were managed through online visits, helping to reduce unnecessary in-person encounters. The screening tool proved effective in assisting thousands of patients and preserving pandemic surge capacity. Evaluation: 8/10.