The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the landscape of virtual care, prompting a surge in telehealth and other digital health modalities. The scoping review titled How Has COVID-19 Changed the Way We Do Virtual Care? A Scoping Review Protocol provides valuable insights that can help practitioners enhance their virtual care skills and outcomes.
Key Findings
The review identified several important trends and outcomes in the use of virtual care during the pandemic:
- Diverse Modalities: Virtual care expanded beyond traditional telehealth to include video conferencing, wearable devices, and smartphone apps.
- Access and Equity: Vulnerable populations, such as those in low-income households or marginalized communities, faced significant barriers to accessing virtual care.
- Healthcare System Benefits: Virtual care helped reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and facilitated better linkages across care sectors.
- Challenges: Providers faced difficulties in performing physical examinations and assessing complex health issues virtually.
Implications for Practitioners
Based on these findings, practitioners can take several steps to improve their virtual care delivery:
- Leverage Diverse Technologies: Incorporate a variety of digital tools to meet different patient needs and preferences.
- Focus on Equity: Develop strategies to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to the necessary technology and support for virtual care.
- Enhance Training: Invest in training for healthcare providers to effectively use virtual care technologies and address the unique challenges they present.
Encouraging Further Research
The review highlights the need for ongoing research to better understand the optimal use of virtual care. Practitioners are encouraged to participate in or conduct studies that explore:
- The effectiveness of different virtual care modalities in improving patient outcomes.
- Strategies to overcome barriers faced by vulnerable populations.
- Best practices for integrating virtual care into routine healthcare delivery.
By staying informed and proactive, practitioners can help shape the future of virtual care, ensuring it remains a viable and effective option for all patients.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: How Has COVID-19 Changed the Way We Do Virtual Care? A Scoping Review Protocol.
