VIDEO: Telemedicine, in-person visits ‘complementary’ in providing best care to GI patients
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LAS VEGAS – In this video exclusive, Naresh T. Gunaratnam, MD, from Huron Gastroenterology in Michigan, discussed results from a study that evaluated patients’ perceptions of telemedicine services compared with in-person office visits.
The research was presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting.
“Telehealth and in-person are complementary, and both need to be done to provide effective care,” Gunaratnam said. “Some people prefer telehealth, some people prefer in-person, and as we evolve in gastroenterology to provide the best care for our patients during a pandemic and post-pandemic, we need to think about using telehealth in the best way possible to service our patients.”
Gunaratnam and colleagues sent out online surveys to 3,000 gastrointestinal patients across eight community-based GI practices in the United States. Patients were asked questions regarding preference of telemedicine vs. in-person visits.
Patients who were employed had a net promoter score of about 38. He said this demonstrates those who are employed prefer telemedicine compared with those not employed. In addition, patients who are retired had a net promoter score of 13 and prefer in-office visits vs. telemedicine.
Gunaratnam said telemedicine is an acceptable way to provide GI care; however, those who are aged at least 60 years and retired prefer in-person visits.
“People who are working and younger than 60 years prefer the flexibility that telehealth affords in providing GI care without a significant compromise to quality of service that they receive,” he said.
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Dobrusin A, et al. Poster: Patient perception of telehealth services compared to in-person office visits across multiple gastroenterology practices. Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 22-27, 2021; Las Vegas (hybrid meeting).
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