Abstract
BackgroundInternet hospitals in China are being rapidly developed as an innovative approach to providing health services. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the development of internet hospitals that promote outpatient service delivery to the public via internet technologies. To date, no studies have assessed China's internet hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of China's internet hospitals and assess the health service capacity of these hospitals.MethodsData on 711 internet hospitals were collected from official websites, the WeChat (Tencent Inc) platform, smartphone apps, and the Baidu search engine until July 16, 2020.ResultsAs of July 16, 2020, 711 internet hospitals were developed in mainland China. More than half of these internet hospitals (421/711, 59.2%) were established during 2019 (206/711, 29%) and 2020 (215/711, 30.2%). Furthermore, about one-third (215/711, 30.2%) of internet hospitals were established at the beginning of 2020 as an emergency response to the COVID-19 epidemic. The 711 internet hospitals consisted of the following 3 types of hospitals: government-oriented (42/711, 5.91%), hospital-oriented (143/711, 20.11%), and enterprise-oriented internet hospitals (526/711, 73.98%). The vast majority of internet hospitals were traditional hospitals (526/711, 74%). Nearly 46.1% (221/711) of internet hospitals requested doctors to provide health services at a specific web clinic. Most patients (224/639, 35.1%) accessed outpatient services via WeChat. Internet hospitals’ consulting methods included SMS text messaging consultations involving the use of graphics (552/570, 96.8%), video consultations (248/570, 43.5%), and telephone consultations (238/570, 41.8%). The median number of available web-based doctors was 43, and the median consultation fees of fever clinics and other outpatient clinics were ¥0 (US $0) per consultation and ¥6 (US $0.93) per consultation, respectively. Internet hospitals have provided various services during the COVID-19 pandemic, including medical prescription, drug delivery, and medical insurance services.ConclusionsThe dramatic increase of internet hospitals in China has played an important role in the prevention and control of COVID-19. Internet hospitals provide different and convenient medical services for people in need.
Highlights
The outbreak of the novel COVID-19 disease was first reported in January 2020, and the disease has been spreading throughout the entire globe without any indication of stopping any time soon [1,2]
As of July 16, 2020, 711 internet hospitals were developed in mainland China
About one-third (215/711, 30.2%) of internet hospitals were established at the beginning of 2020 as an emergency response to the COVID-19 epidemic
Summary
The outbreak of the novel COVID-19 disease was first reported in January 2020, and the disease has been spreading throughout the entire globe without any indication of stopping any time soon [1,2]. This epidemic has constituted a public health emergency of pandemic proportions [3], which has created major dilemmas in all areas of health care. Strict prevention measures and effective therapeutics are urgently needed for the effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic Such measures include the promulgation of Chinese government decrees that require domestic internet hospitals to vigorously develop telemedicine services [5]. No studies have assessed China's internet hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic
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