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Telemedicine achieves high satisfaction ratings among patients with IBD
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Outpatient telemedicine for patients with inflammatory bowel disease using standard computer technology achieved patient satisfaction ratings similar to those for in-person clinical encounters, according to researchers.
The pilot study at a Veterans Affairs hospital enrolled 34 patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Satisfaction and clinic metrics were compared between two groups, one treated remotely by an IBD specialist using a new computerized system and a second group treated in person.
After 57 encounters in 9 months, the two groups rated their clinical experiences as excellent. Wait times, appointment duration and median number of patients per clinic were also similar.
“Patients with inflammatory bowel disease often experience barriers to subspecialty access,” the study authors wrote. “Our study provides preliminary supporting evidence that the management of a relatively complex disease, inflammatory bowel disease, can be delivered with the use of a telemedicine system over an established standard network.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.