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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
460
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.
Atrium Health- Carolinas Medical Center
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Composite measure of the occurrence of hospital encounters
composite measure of the occurrence of hospital encounters for the 30 days following surgery including all-cause and any-site inpatient, observational, and emergency department visits within Carolinas HealthCare System
Time frame: from date of surgery until the date of 30 days after surgery
Postoperative follow-up visit time length in minutes
total time of postoperative follow-up visit in minutes
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Patient satisfaction score
self-reported patient satisfaction rating for follow-up visit assessed by survey
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Patient convenience score
self-reported patient convenience rating for follow-up visit assessed by survey
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Rate of postoperative follow-up
percent of patients who receive a postoperative follow-up visit
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Rate of postoperative no-shows
percent of scheduled postoperative follow-up appointments in which patients do not complete
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Patient travel time to clinic in minutes
total patient travel time from home to postoperative follow-up clinic in minutes
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Patient cost savings in dollars
Patient gas cost savings for travel from home to postoperative follow-up clinic
Time frame: date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
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