Examining the Value of Video Visits to Patients in an Outpatient Urology Clinic

Abstract

To examine the value that urologic patients place on video visits before the implementation of a telemedicine program at our institution's outpatient urology clinic. We conducted an on-site survey at a tertiary medical center's outpatient urology clinic over a 3-month period. Our survey questions assessed patient access to technology needed for video visits, patients' perceptions about video visits, the amount patients would be willing to pay out-of-pocket for video visits, and total time patients expect to spend during a standard clinic visit. We completed 108 surveys of adult patients. Of the patients, 94% owned a device that could be used for a video visit. The median level of patient interest in video visits was reported as 72 out of 100 (interquartile range: 51.25; scale: 0-100,) with a statistically significant difference in interest level across different age groups (P = .022). The median amount patients reported they were willing to pay out-of-pocket for video visits was $20 (interquartile range: $39.25, max: $174). The vast majority of patients in our outpatient urology clinic possess the technology necessary to engage in video visits. Patients are highly interested in video visits and report a willingness to share in the costs of these visits. Given that a portion of patients travel long distances for specialty clinic visits, video visits have the potential to substantially improve the patient experience.