The use of telehealth-supported stewardship activities in acute-care and long-term care settings: An implementation effectiveness trial

Abstract

Background: We assessed the implementation of telehealth-supported stewardship activities in acute-care units and long-term care (LTC) units in Veterans' Administration medical centers (VAMCs). Design: Before-and-after, quasi-experimental implementation effectiveness study with a baseline period (2019-2020) and an intervention period (2021). Setting: The study was conducted in 3 VAMCs without onsite infectious disease (ID) support. Participants: The study included inpatient providers at participating sites who prescribe antibiotics. Intervention: During 2021, an ID physician met virtually 3 times per week with the stewardship pharmacist at each participating VAMC to review patients on antibiotics in acute-care units and LTC units. Real-time feedback on prescribing antibiotics was given to providers. Additional implementation strategies included stakeholder engagement, education, and quality monitoring. Methods: The reach-effectiveness-adoption-implementation-maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used for program evaluation. The primary outcome of effectiveness was antibiotic days of therapy (DOT) per 1,000 days present aggregated across all 3 sites. An interrupted time-series analysis was performed to compare this rate during the intervention and baseline periods. Electronic surveys, periodic reflections, and semistructured interviews were used to assess other RE-AIM outcomes. Results: The telehealth program reviewed 502 unique patients and made 681 recommendations to 24 providers; 77% of recommendations were accepted. After program initiation, antibiotic DOT immediately decreased in the LTC units (-30%; P