Virtual Check-Ins: A Game Changer for Hospitals

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large hospital shifted its approach to specialist consultations. They examined 2, 429 patient records from November 2020 to December 2021. Out of these, about 2, 160 patients might have benefited from virtual visits. Family doctors led 557 of these sessions, and interestingly, around 10% of patients could have been treated solely by their family doctors. This was particularly true for older patients and depended on the type of specialist and the pandemic situation. Is this online shift useful? Let's explore that.

Older patients seemed to gain the most from these virtual sessions. The need for these chats varied by specialist and the current COVID-19 waves. But the big question is: how well did these virtual chats treat patients? And what does this mean for healthcare's future? Delving deeper, virtual chats aren't a one-size-fits-all solution. While some patients found them helpful, others still required in-person visits. It's not just about having the tech, but knowing when and how to use it. Plus, not everyone has the digital skills or access needed.

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