Changes in the Use of Telehealth and Face-To-Face Chiropractic Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the use of face-to-face and telehealth chiropractic care in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) before and after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of VHA administrative data, including monthly numbers of unique patients and visits for face-to-face and telehealth (synchronous video or telephone) chiropractic care from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021. Results: During the pre-pandemic phase (October 2019 to February 2020), a mean of 28 930 (SD 289) total monthly visits were conducted face-to-face (99.9%). In March 2020, total monthly visits decreased to 17.0% of the pre-pandemic average, 25.0% being face-to-face, with over a 200-fold increase in telehealth visits (rising to 1331 visits) compared to the pre-pandemic average. April showed the lowest number of face-to-face visits at (4094). May-October 2020 showed that face-to-face visits increase on average by 70.7% per month, while telehealth visits averaged 17.3% per month. October-February 2020 had total monthly visits plateau at a mean of 22 250 (76.9% of the pre-pandemic average). Telehealth visits reduced to a mean of 1245 monthly visits over this 5-month period, a drop of –5.6% of the average of monthly visits. In March 2021, total monthly visits (31 221) exceeded the pre-pandemic average for the first time since January 2020; 4.0% remained in telehealth. Conclusion: Face-to-face visits decreased early in the pandemic but increased after May 2020. Chiropractic telehealth use rapidly increased during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and decreased later, but remained slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels.