Beth Careyva, MD; Grant Greenberg, MD, MHSA, MA; Robert Kruklitis, MD, PhD; Kyle Shaak, MPH; John Stoekle, MD; Jennifer Stephens, DO, FACP
Corresponding Author: Beth Careyva, MD; Lehigh Valley Health Network. Email: beth_a.careyva@lvhn.org
Section: Original Research
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Background: The COVID-19 (C-19) pandemic required swift response from healthcare organizations to mitigate spread and impact. A large integrated health network rapidly deployed and operationalized multiple access channels to the community, allowing assessment and triage to occur virtually. These channels were characterized by swift implementation of virtual models including asynchronous e-visits, and video visits for C-19 screening. Purpose: 1) Evaluate implementation characteristics of C-19 screening e-visits and video visits. 2) Identify volume of C-19 screening and other care provided via e-visits and video visits 3) Discuss future implications of expanded virtual access models. Methods: Retrospective analysis of implementation data for C-19 screening e-visits and video visits in a large health network including operational characteristics and visit / screening volumes conducted. Results: Virtual channels were implemented and rapidly expanded within this organization during the first week C-19 testing was made available. Over the study period, primary care clinicians conducted 10,673 e-visits and 31,226 video visits with 9,126 and 26,009 patients, respectively. Within these two virtual modalities, 4,267 C-19 tests were ordered (10% of visits). 448 clinicians participated in supporting 24/7 access to these virtual modalities. Discussion: Implementation of C-19 screening virtual visits required I/S infrastructure creation, stakeholder engagement, development and modification of EHR templates and an available workforce. Rapid deployment of these methods provided timely access to effective C-19 community screening. Given ongoing patient interest and opportunity, virtual healthcare services will continue to be available for an expanded number of symptoms and diagnoses.