Assessing the Provider Implementation and Experience of TeleHealth During COVID-19 and Impact on Acute Encounters
Assessing the Provider Implementation and Experience of TeleHealth During COVID-19 and Impact on Acute Encounters
The primary objective of this research study is to assess Radiation Oncology healthcare providers (i.e. faculty, residents and advanced practice providers (APPs) implementation and perception of telehealth for on treatment patients in lieu of in person on treatment visits during standard of care radiotherapy during COVID-19.
A secondary aim will be to evaluate the rates of acute care during COVID-19 with telehealth in comparison to the rates during our prior Quality Improvement (QI) project (NCT04277650), considering the risk prediction based on our previously developed ML algorithm. Patient risk during this period will be assessed by the ML algorithm and actual rates of Emergency Department visits and hospitalizations (acute encounters) will be compared to the results of our prior QI project. These data will be used to discern how actual rates of acute care compare to providers' expectations both with and without telehealth implementation. Reasons for acute encounters and associated healthcare costs compared to patients undergoing standard of care assessments in NCT04277650 will be assessed to determine the percentage that are COVID-19 related. Basic demographic, disease, location of acute care, form of clinical assessments (video, in-person, telephone, etc.), and treatment information regarding the patients will also be captured following the completion of the research project for assessment.
These endpoints will establish how our current COVID-19-based precautions impact treatment-related outcomes in patient care.
Inclusion Criteria:
• started outpatient radiation therapy with or without concurrent systemic therapy at Duke Cancer Center during the COVID-19 outbreak
Exclusion Criteria: