Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated the adoption of virtual care technologies, reshaping how healthcare services are delivered. A recent study titled "Results and Lessons Learned when Implementing Virtual Health Resource Centers to Increase Virtual Care Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic" provides valuable insights into how Virtual Health Resource Centers (VHRCs) can enhance the adoption of virtual care technologies. This blog explores the study's findings and discusses how practitioners can leverage these insights to improve their virtual care delivery.
Understanding the Study
The study focused on establishing VHRCs across four hospitals within a large healthcare system to support the adoption of multiple health technologies. The research spanned three years, with the first half dedicated to pre-implementation efforts and the latter half focusing on implementation. The study aimed to increase the knowledge and skills of internal facilitators, enhance site capacity, and maintain high adherence to implementation strategies.
Key strategies included:
- Building facilitator and site capacity.
- Implementing 73 discrete strategies to overcome barriers.
- Establishing VHRCs to provide training and consultation.
Key Findings
The study revealed several critical outcomes:
- Increased knowledge and skills among facilitators.
- Enhanced capacity and support for virtual care technologies.
- Improved adherence to implementation strategies across sites.
- Increased virtual care utilization across all sites.
However, the study also noted that while virtual care utilization increased, the comparison to national metrics showed no significant difference, highlighting the need for further research to understand long-term impacts.
Implications for Practitioners
For practitioners looking to improve their virtual care delivery, the study offers several actionable insights:
- Invest in Training: Building the knowledge and skills of facilitators is crucial. Practitioners should focus on continuous training and capacity building to enhance virtual care adoption.
- Utilize Implementation Science: Employing structured implementation strategies can help overcome barriers and streamline the adoption process.
- Establish Support Centers: Creating dedicated resource centers can provide essential support and consultation, increasing efficiency and reducing barriers.
Encouraging Further Research
While the study provides valuable insights, it also underscores the need for further research to understand the long-term impact of VHRCs on virtual care adoption. Practitioners are encouraged to explore these areas further, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in virtual care delivery.
Conclusion
The establishment of VHRCs has shown promise in enhancing virtual care adoption, offering a model that can be replicated and adapted to different healthcare settings. By focusing on training, structured implementation, and dedicated support, practitioners can improve their virtual care delivery, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Results and Lessons Learned when Implementing Virtual Health Resource Centers to Increase Virtual Care Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
