Vanderbilt University Medical Center Ambulatory Teleneurology COVID-19 Experience

Abstract

Background: Telehealth has proliferated since the 1950s, but adoption and coverage of telehealth services for the U.S. public have been slow. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the federal government has implemented temporary policy changes that removed barriers and catalyzed the unprecedented adoption of telehealth. Methods: To assess ambulatory teleneurology satisfaction, we analyzed postvisit questionnaire data from patients and clinicians who completed teleneurology visits during the COVID-19 pandemic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Neurology (VUMC). Results: From March 18 to May 8, 2020, VUMC completed 3,935 teleneurology visits. More than 97% of patients were very highly or highly confident in the telehealth care they received, whereas almost 99% of clinicians were very likely or somewhat likely to recommend telehealth to other clinicians. Conclusions: Teleneurology satisfaction at VUMC has been positive, and going forward, we must advance upon this unprecedented adoption of telehealth and never revert to former restrictive policies.