Pullyblank Kristin, Krupa Nicole, Scribani Melissa, Chapman Amanda, Kern Megan, Brunner Wendy
Bassett Research Institute, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, NY, USA.
Digit Health. 2023 Oct 3;9:20552076231203803. doi: 10.1177/20552076231203803. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.
Rural populations faced unique challenges to healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis assesses trends in digital health technology use at the onset of the pandemic and describes digital health behaviors among a cohort of patients within a rural integrated healthcare network throughout the first 3 years of the pandemic.
We used data from both the electronic health record (EHR) and a patient survey. EHR data was used to longitudinally assess change over time in patient portal use and telehealth visits. Survey responses were used to provide additional context.
Telehealth appointments peaked in the first quarter of 2020 at 28% of all office visits, before leveling off to 8-10% in 2022. Women and those younger than 65 were more likely to have participated in telehealth appointments. Active patient portal users increased from 34.1% in January 2019 to 63.7% in January 2022. There were no differences noted in portal use trends based on rurality.
Our findings corroborate previous research, as well as add context regarding digital health technology use throughout the COVID pandemic in a rural patient population. Future research must focus on understanding constraints to digital health expansion in order to continue providing safe, equitable care.
在新冠疫情期间，农村人口在获得医疗保健方面面临独特挑战。本分析评估了疫情初期数字健康技术的使用趋势，并描述了在疫情头三年中，农村综合医疗网络中一组患者的数字健康行为。
我们使用了电子健康记录（EHR）和患者调查的数据。EHR数据用于纵向评估患者门户使用和远程医疗就诊随时间的变化。调查回复用于提供更多背景信息。
远程医疗预约在2020年第一季度达到峰值，占所有门诊就诊的28%，之后在2022年稳定在8% - 10%。女性和65岁以下的人更有可能参与远程医疗预约。活跃的患者门户用户从2019年1月的34.1%增加到2022年1月的63.7%。基于农村地区的门户使用趋势没有差异。
我们的研究结果证实了先前的研究，并为农村患者群体在整个新冠疫情期间数字健康技术的使用增添了背景信息。未来的研究必须专注于理解数字健康扩展的制约因素，以便继续提供安全、公平的医疗服务。
