Article Figures & Data
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Initial Round of Interviews (2021–2022) Follow-up Interviews (2023) Clinic type Federally qualified health center 9 6 Rural health center 5 5 Role on clinical team MD/APP 9 7 BHC 3 2 RN 1 1 Number of years in practice <5 2 0 5 to 10 7 6 >10 5 5 Gender Male 10 9 Female 4 3 Abbreviations: MD/APP, Medical Doctor/Advanced Practice Provider; BHC, Behavioral Health Clinician; RN, Registered Nurse.
Benefits Quotes Increased access for patients I think for stable patients, yes. I think it is a very reasonable thing that if our goal of treating opioid use disorder is to maintain function in society and obligations, and one of those is work and family and childcare, that virtual visits help us better achieve that goal. [PCP 10]
I’d say I’ve learned that it is an effective tool for communicating partnership and allegiance over time. That does build. I’ve learned to thank people for inviting me into their home. I’ve learned that providing virtual access is way better than providing no access. [PCP 1]Personal flexibility I've maintained a half day of only phone or virtual, partially to be at home, and I do find, certainly my pets think that's great, and my alarm going off 15 or 20 minutes later, that's great. More casual dress; that's great. Some of those things are the things that have made the still really unconsciously pressured, fast-paced days with onerous documentation requirements and computer order entry requirements a little bit more palatable. [PCP 7]
It's nice to have the ability to be at home for that day. Often, my wife is working from home, and so, even in between patients, we can say hi to each other and connect. I can sit outside during lunch. I really enjoy that aspect of it. I think it's a decent balance between being in clinic and being at home. [PCP 10]Decreased burden It is much more common, if I'm on a completely virtual session, that I will see 10 people in that half-day, and I'll have all my notes finished and closed before noon if I start in the morning, whereas if I was seeing people in-person, I'd probably still be seeing patients by noon, let alone have everything done. That's a plus. The flip side of that is that, if I finish that half-day of virtual sessions, I feel exhausted. [PCP 13] Allowing for mental health breaks Affirmative trauma gets reported and exchanged and having to compartmentalize that trauma became a burden for me. But since I've been doing a lot of that work from home that has been less severe. I have noticed that at the end of the days I’m doing OUD I'm a lot less stressed or anxious or whatever I can—between appointments I can go pet my dog which you probably heard barking in the background a little bit ago. [Laughter] Or go play with my kid who's at home and just turned a year this August. There are ways I can decompress that aren't necessarily—they're just like you're in a room with a patient or your coworkers can provide some solace but being comfortable and at home is the best place to be, at least for me. [RN 1] Decreased environmental impact I think for stable patients when the relationship is well-established, ongoing opportunities to save carbon footprint should absolutely be maintained and fought for. [PCP 7]
