A new report by a team of gastroenterology (GI) providers is citing that since the COVID-19 pandemic began, telehealth encounters are proving to be a highly effective option among GI providers and patients.
The report, “Gastroenterologists and Patients Report High Satisfaction Rates With Telehealth Services During the Novel Coronavirus 2019 Pandemic,” is based on two studies:
“We never before had nationwide studies conducted on the effective use of telehealth within gastroenterology. These findings underscore the fact that telehealth is a highly effective modality in delivering GI care,” said Naresh T. Gunaratnam, M.D., AGAF, CEO of Huron Gastro, which participated in the surveys, and an author of the findings report.
Among GI patients, the survey showed that greater than 80% of patients responded that their provider addressed their GI concern during the telehealth visit, and they were willing to participate in more telehealth visits in the future.
High satisfaction was observed in all age groups, with the highest rates in patients older than age 85. This widespread acceptance of telehealth, especially among the most senior populations who are traditionally less tech-savvy, points to the efficacy, ease, and functionality of telehealth technologies, including patient engagement platforms, patient intake solutions, and mobile apps, including those offered through Curago Health.
Among symptom-related visits, patients responded highly that their provider was able to address them through telehealth. Among the most common reasons for telehealth visits, satisfaction ratings included:
Among GI providers, greater than 90% agreed or strongly agreed to all four prompts:
“Modern medicine had evolved from the 1960s when a GI diagnosis had to be made in-person,” adds Dr. Gunaratnam. “Today, high-quality testing such as ultrasounds, blood tests, and scans can effectively diagnose GI symptoms without a provider needing to physically touch or examine a patient. This study points to the efficacy of telehealth in treating acute and chronic GI conditions during any disruption of our health care system.”