Is Virtual Clinic the Way Forward: Patient Satisfaction Comparing Phone Clinic vs. Conventional Clinic

Abstract

Background:Outpatient clinics play a vital role in assessing and treating patients. They traditionally involve face-to-face consultation with a clinician to diagnose and treat many medical and surgical conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic many of these traditional methods were replaced with telemedicine to minimise patient interaction and therefore potential exposure. This study utilises data from patient questionnaires with the aim of determining patient satisfaction in regard to telemedicine.Method:A list of patients who attended the Rockingham General hospital outpatient Orthopaedic phone clinic was obtained between 23rd of March and 30th of May, this list was then filtered into a randomised generator to provide a call list of patients. Patients were contacted and verbal consent was obtained to participate in satisfaction questionnaire that was completed via phone.Results: A total of 100 patients completed the questionnaire - 50 from elective surgery clinics and 50 from fracture clinics. The mean time for participants’ one-way commute to the hospital was 21 minutes (2 to 60 minutes). Only 4% of telehealth consultations resulted in patients being forced to miss work or school. 13% of patients were required to attend the hospital on the day of their consultation for either radiological imaging or for application or removal of casts or splint. We observed consistently high satisfaction scores across all parameters, in both elective and fracture clinics, culminating in a mean score of 9.08/10 on the Likert scale. In the qualitative component of the questionnaire, patients frequently acknowledged a high quality of care despite adverse circumstances.Conclusion:Telemedicine continues to develop and become a more widely accessible tool in the provision of outpatient orthopaedic care. With its ever-increasing availability and acceptance, it should play a more central role in delivering effective and efficient healthcare to all patients.

Patients’ Attitude and Satisfaction with Telemedicine and Electronic Health Clinics in Aseer Healthy Cities, Saudi Arabia

“…A study comparing the satisfaction among 100 individuals regarding virtual clinic and telemedicine revealed a high satisfaction score with a mean score of 9.08 out of 10. The study demonstrated that telemedicine continues to develop and become more acceptable among the population [19].…”

Implementing an innovative, patient-centered approach to day case arthroplasty: improving patient outcomes through remote preoperative pharmacist consultations

“…Remote consultations are an increasingly used and widely available method of patient consultation, which have demonstrated consistently high satisfaction scores from patients. Remote telephone consultations also reduce the logistical and geographical barriers which may prevent patients from accessing services 26. As the preoperative pharmacist review did not require any direct patient examination, this service was ideally placed to use the benefits of remote consultations.…”

“…Remote telephone consultations also reduce the logistical and geographical barriers which may prevent patients from accessing services. 26 As the preoperative pharmacist review did not require any direct patient examination, this service was ideally placed to use the benefits of remote consultations. Our results demonstrate that patients found this method of pharmacist consultation useful and convenient, and that it improved their overall experience of care.…”