Opportunity costs of attending surgical clinic appointments and experiences with telemedicine for follow-up care.

Mitchell D Thatcher,Jeremy Reed,Mckinley C Smith,Michael W Thatcher,Michelle Mccarron

doi:10.1177/20503121211045247

Mitchell D Thatcher, Jeremy Reed + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211045247

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Abstract

Objectives:Telemedicine has been rapidly implemented in orthopedics during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to quantify opportunity costs for patients attending typical in-person appointments and understand their perceptions of telemedicine for follow-up care.Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed by surveying patients who had elective orthopedic surgery and attended at least one in-person and one phone call appointment. The survey assessed opportunity costs associated with in-person appointments, experience with telemedicine, and preferred type of future appointment.Results:Of the 49 eligible patients, 41 (83.7%) completed the survey. The median travel distance to the clinic was 108 km, and the time spent in the clinic was 60 min. Participants responded “yes” to various forms of opportunity costs associated with attending in-person appointments, including missed work (46.3%), lost income (34.1%), recreational activities (26.8%), home or yard care (14.6%), socializing with friends or family (12.2%), school (2.4%), and childcare (2.4%). In addition, elements of the telemedicine appointment were rated from 1 (least favorable) to 10 (most favorable), and averages were calculated for ease of use (9.2), convenience (8.4), confidence in the doctor’s diagnostic ability (8.2), likelihood of using the service again (6.4), and overall satisfaction (8.2). Preferred future appointment types included having the first visit in-person and subsequent visits via telephone (61.0%), in-person only (36.6%), and unsure (2.4%).Conclusion:This study identifies various opportunity costs associated with in-person orthopedic appointments and a favorable view toward telemedicine for follow-up care.

Highlights

In March of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic.[1]
The telephone survey was delivered in three sections: (1) opportunity costs faced with in-person clinic appointments, (2) experience with a telemedicine follow-up appointment, and (3) preferred type of appointment for future care
Time spent traveling, and estimated time spent in the clinic were reported as medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs)

Summary

Introduction

In March of 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic.[1]. The shift toward telemedicine has provided a chance to reflect on the opportunity costs that patients face when attending typical in-person appointments. Orthopedic in-person clinic appointments are associated with a variety of opportunity costs for patients. These costs include the time spent traveling to the clinic,[4] costs related to travel,[5] and income lost due to missed work.[6] these losses may be increased for patients who live in rural areas. Researchers have found that for patients receiving carpal tunnel release surgery in Saskatchewan, travel-related

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