A Stepwise Transition to Telemedicine in Response to COVID-19

Introduction: With the emergence of COVID-19, many primary care offices closed their physical space to limit exposure. Despite decades telemedicine in clinical practice, it is rare find used small-metro and academic settings. Following decision face-to-face care, we tracked our practice’s transition telemedicine. Methods: This was a prospective quality improvement project following Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles optimize use (both telephone video this practice) encounters. Central PDSA post-encounter questionnaire track patient, appointment, physician factors. Throughout cycles, inferential statistics were inform process improvement. Results: In Cycle 2, logistic regression model showed length encounter, need for examination, satisfaction correctly predicted physician’s preferred medium (χ2(3) = 40.56, P < .001). 3, χ2 test reason visit (χ2(4) 47.30, .001). cycle 4, week telemedicine, encounter (χ2(9) 172.52, Discussion: Using variables that preference able adjust processes through cycles. Conclusion: Early allows informed at local level. Our findings highlight factors consider when implementing such as examination type or encounter. addition, can encourage tools learning practicing should be available.