NCT03258177

Virtual Visits (Utilization of Virtual Care in Postoperative Patients to Improve the Patient Experience)

Utilization of Virtual Care in Postoperative Patients to Improve the Patient Experience

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 460 (actual)
• Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate postoperative virtual care visits for patients who undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or robotic cholecystectomy. The investigators aim to better understand whether postoperative virtual care visits will not result in a greater composite measure of the occurrence of hospital encounters within Atrium Health (AH) for the 30 days following surgery than standard in-person clinic care. The investigators also aim to better understand whether postoperative virtual care visits provide time and cost savings, and provide equal or improved patient satisfaction and convenience.

Detailed description

Participants will be randomized to complete either a postoperative follow-up visit using virtual care technology or by attending a standard in-person visit at the clinic. The virtual visit uses a camera-enabled device and internet access to provide live access to the medical professional. Surveys to assess patient satisfaction and convenience will be administered by email on the day of the postoperative follow-up visit. Additional information including demographics, hospital encounters within 30 days of surgery, length of time of the follow-up visit, travel cost and time, whether additional follow-up care is required, and complications after surgery will be collected to evaluate postoperative virtual care visits. Subject participation in the study will end after follow-up care is complete or at 30 days, whichever occurs last.

Conditions

• Appendectomy, Laparoscopic
• Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic
• Cholecystectomy, Robotic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Virtual Visit	Participants will be given information about how to enroll in virtual care. Participants will use their own camera-enabled device with internet connection to see and speak to the medical professional in real-time and complete the virtual follow-up visit.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-08-18
• Primary completion: 2020-04-10
• Completion: 2020-05-10
• First posted: 2017-08-23
• Last updated: 2022-08-10

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States