| Internet-Based Medical Visit and Diagnosis for Common Medical Problems: Experience of First User Cohort. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21457013 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Abstract Objective: Internet-based medical visits, or "structured e-Visits," allow patients to report symptoms and seek diagnosis and treatment from their doctor over a secure Web site, without calling or visiting the physician's office. While acceptability of e-Visits has been investigated, outcomes associated with e-Visits, that is, whether patients receiving diagnoses receive appropriate care or need to return to the doctor, remain unexplored. Materials and Methods: The first 156 e-Visit users from a large family medicine practice were surveyed regarding their experience with the e-Visit and e-Visit outcomes. In addition, medical records for patients making e-Visits were reviewed to examine need for follow-up care within 7 days. Results: Interviews were completed with 121 patients (77.6% participation). The most common type of e-Visit was for "other" symptoms or concerns (37%), followed by sinus/cold symptoms (35%). Back pain, urinary symptoms, cough, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and vaginal irritation were each less frequent (<10%). A majority, 61% completed e-Visits with their own physician. The majority of patients (57.0%) reported receipt of a diagnosis without need for follow-up beyond a prescription; 75% of patients thought the e-Visit was as good as or better than an in-person visit, and only 11.6% felt that their concerns or questions were incompletely addressed. In a review of medical records, 16.9% had a follow-up visit within 7 days, mostly for the same condition. Four of these were on the same day as the e-Visit, including one emergency department visit. Conclusions: Outcomes for the e-Visit suggest that it is an appropriate and potentially cost-saving addition to in-person delivery of primary care. |
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Authors:
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Steven M Albert; Grant J Shevchik; Suzanne Paone; G Daniel Martich |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-4-1 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association Volume: - ISSN: 1556-3669 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Apr |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-4-4 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 100959949 Medline TA: Telemed J E Health Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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1 Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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