Virtual Visits (Utilization of Virtual Care in Postoperative Patients to Improve the Patient Experience)

Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic Clinical Trial

Official title:

Utilization of Virtual Care in Postoperative Patients to Improve the Patient Experience

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03258177
• Other study ID #: IRB00082477
• Secondary ID: 07-17-14E
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 18, 2017
• Est. completion date: May 10, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate postoperative virtual care visits for patients who undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or robotic cholecystectomy. The investigators aim to better understand whether postoperative virtual care visits will not result in a greater composite measure of the occurrence of hospital encounters within Atrium Health (AH) for the 30 days following surgery than standard in-person clinic care. The investigators also aim to better understand whether postoperative virtual care visits provide time and cost savings, and provide equal or improved patient satisfaction and convenience.

Description:

Participants will be randomized to complete either a postoperative follow-up visit using virtual care technology or by attending a standard in-person visit at the clinic. The virtual visit uses a camera-enabled device and internet access to provide live access to the medical professional. Surveys to assess patient satisfaction and convenience will be administered by email on the day of the postoperative follow-up visit. Additional information including demographics, hospital encounters within 30 days of surgery, length of time of the follow-up visit, travel cost and time, whether additional follow-up care is required, and complications after surgery will be collected to evaluate postoperative virtual care visits. Subject participation in the study will end after follow-up care is complete or at 30 days, whichever occurs last.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 460
• Est. completion date: May 10, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: April 10, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 90 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available for the duration of the study
• English speaking
• Able to read
• Have an email address
• Scheduled to undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy or robotic cholecystectomy OR have undergone an unplanned (urgent or emergent) laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, or robotic cholecystectomy
• Have surgery performed by a surgeon at either Carolinas Medical Center-Main or Carolinas Medical Center- Mercy who provides emergency general surgery clinical coverage
• Live in North Carolina or South Carolina

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to complete a virtual visit (due to lack of appropriate technology, necessary technology skills, other);
• Medical condition, laboratory finding, or physical exam finding that precludes participation (patients at high risk for complications, particularly those with perforated appendicitis, patients with active cocaine abuse)
• Postoperative length of stay greater than or equal to 4 days
• Discharged with drains that need to be removed at a postoperative visit
• Admitted from or discharged to assisted living facility, skilled nursing facility, or location other than home
• Have chronic pain for which the participant takes narcotic medication

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Appendectomy, Laparoscopic
• Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic
• Cholecystectomy, Robotic

Intervention

Other:
• Virtual Visit
Participants will be given information about how to enroll in virtual care. Participants will use their own camera-enabled device with internet connection to see and speak to the medical professional in real-time and complete the virtual follow-up visit.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Atrium Health- Carolinas Medical Center	Charlotte	North Carolina

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Wake Forest University Health Sciences	American College of Surgeons

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Composite measure of the occurrence of hospital encounters	composite measure of the occurrence of hospital encounters for the 30 days following surgery including all-cause and any-site inpatient, observational, and emergency department visits within Carolinas HealthCare System	from date of surgery until the date of 30 days after surgery
Secondary	Postoperative follow-up visit time length in minutes	total time of postoperative follow-up visit in minutes	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Secondary	Patient satisfaction score	self-reported patient satisfaction rating for follow-up visit assessed by survey	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Secondary	Patient convenience score	self-reported patient convenience rating for follow-up visit assessed by survey	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Secondary	Rate of postoperative follow-up	percent of patients who receive a postoperative follow-up visit	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Secondary	Rate of postoperative no-shows	percent of scheduled postoperative follow-up appointments in which patients do not complete	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Secondary	Patient travel time to clinic in minutes	total patient travel time from home to postoperative follow-up clinic in minutes	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery
Secondary	Patient cost savings in dollars	Patient gas cost savings for travel from home to postoperative follow-up clinic	date of follow-up visit, approximately 14 days after date of surgery