Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences
Background: Non-emergent medical problems that arise when a usual provider is unavailable can often result in emergency department or urgent care visits, which can be particularly distressing to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PIDD). On-demand, synchronous telemedicine may b...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mary Ann Liebert
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Telemedicine Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/TMR.2023.0024 |
| _version_ | 1797346055760642048 |
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| author | Carolyn A. Berry Lorraine Kwok Miriam Gofine Matthew Kaufman Debra A. Williams Kelly Terlizzi Mike Alvaro Charles J. Neighbors |
| author_facet | Carolyn A. Berry Lorraine Kwok Miriam Gofine Matthew Kaufman Debra A. Williams Kelly Terlizzi Mike Alvaro Charles J. Neighbors |
| author_sort | Carolyn A. Berry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Non-emergent medical problems that arise when a usual provider is unavailable can often result in emergency department or urgent care visits, which can be particularly distressing to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PIDD). On-demand, synchronous telemedicine may be a promising supplement when immediate care from usual sources is unavailable. Prior research demonstrated that high-quality telemedicine can be effectively delivered to PIDD. The aim of this article is to describe the utilization and staff perspectives on the implementation of the Telemedicine Triage Project (TTP), an innovative model that provides telemedicine consultations for PIDD who reside in state-certified group residences and present with an urgent but non-emergent medical concern when their usual provider is unavailable.
Methods: Call frequency data for calendar years 2020 and 2021 were reviewed. The study team conducted semi-structured interviews, with 19 key informants representing organizational- and agency-level leadership and staff. The interview data were analyzed using a protocol-driven, rapid qualitative methodology.
Results: Telemedicine consultations increased from 7953 in 2020 to 15,011 calls in 2021, and call volume peaked between 10 am and 1 pm. Key informants reported high satisfaction with TTP; universal benefits and a few barriers to implementation; and strong interest in maintaining the program beyond the grant period.
Discussion: Over the first 2 years of its implementation, the TTP program was widely utilized and proved extremely feasible and acceptable to staff. This model is a promising and highly feasible way to provide equitable access to telemedicine for PIDD by addressing barriers to and disparities in access to health care that affect PIDD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:27:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5dce19413fa483a9b599ccdb53789c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2692-4366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T11:27:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Mary Ann Liebert |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Telemedicine Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5dce19413fa483a9b599ccdb53789c62024-01-26T05:23:56ZengMary Ann LiebertTelemedicine Reports2692-43662023-07-014120421410.1089/TMR.2023.0024Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group ResidencesCarolyn A. BerryLorraine KwokMiriam GofineMatthew KaufmanDebra A. WilliamsKelly TerlizziMike AlvaroCharles J. NeighborsBackground: Non-emergent medical problems that arise when a usual provider is unavailable can often result in emergency department or urgent care visits, which can be particularly distressing to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PIDD). On-demand, synchronous telemedicine may be a promising supplement when immediate care from usual sources is unavailable. Prior research demonstrated that high-quality telemedicine can be effectively delivered to PIDD. The aim of this article is to describe the utilization and staff perspectives on the implementation of the Telemedicine Triage Project (TTP), an innovative model that provides telemedicine consultations for PIDD who reside in state-certified group residences and present with an urgent but non-emergent medical concern when their usual provider is unavailable. Methods: Call frequency data for calendar years 2020 and 2021 were reviewed. The study team conducted semi-structured interviews, with 19 key informants representing organizational- and agency-level leadership and staff. The interview data were analyzed using a protocol-driven, rapid qualitative methodology. Results: Telemedicine consultations increased from 7953 in 2020 to 15,011 calls in 2021, and call volume peaked between 10 am and 1 pm. Key informants reported high satisfaction with TTP; universal benefits and a few barriers to implementation; and strong interest in maintaining the program beyond the grant period. Discussion: Over the first 2 years of its implementation, the TTP program was widely utilized and proved extremely feasible and acceptable to staff. This model is a promising and highly feasible way to provide equitable access to telemedicine for PIDD by addressing barriers to and disparities in access to health care that affect PIDD.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/TMR.2023.0024developmental disabilityemergency departmentintellectual disabilitytelemedicinequalitative research |
| spellingShingle | Carolyn A. Berry Lorraine Kwok Miriam Gofine Matthew Kaufman Debra A. Williams Kelly Terlizzi Mike Alvaro Charles J. Neighbors Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences Telemedicine Reports developmental disability emergency department intellectual disability telemedicine qualitative research |
| title | Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences |
| title_full | Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences |
| title_fullStr | Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences |
| title_short | Utilization and Staff Perspectives on an On-Demand Telemedicine Model for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Who Reside in Certified Group Residences |
| title_sort | utilization and staff perspectives on an on demand telemedicine model for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who reside in certified group residences |
| topic | developmental disability emergency department intellectual disability telemedicine qualitative research |
| url | https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/TMR.2023.0024 |
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