The Virtual Hospitalist: a Critical Innovation During the COVID-19 Crisis

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Telemedicine
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems, particularly in densely populated areas like New York City.
• High patient volumes, increased acuity, and limitations in personal protective equipment (PPE) strained existing hospital resources.
• Visitor restrictions and the novel nature of SARS-CoV-2 necessitated new communication strategies and flexible staffing models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and operation of a virtual hospitalist program during the initial COVID-19 surge in New York City.
• To evaluate the role of virtual hospitalists in expanding healthcare capacity and maintaining quality of care.
• To explore the potential long-term applications of virtual hospitalist services beyond the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• The virtual hospitalist program functioned in parallel with on-site teams, including hospitalists and redeployed physicians.
• Virtual hospitalists provided support for patient care, communication, and training.
• The program facilitated the expansion of palliative care services.

Main Results:

• The virtual hospitalist program successfully augmented the capacity of the hospitalist service during a critical period.
• It addressed challenges related to high patient census, acuity, PPE limitations, and communication barriers.
• The program served as a training and support mechanism for new hospitalists and enhanced palliative care delivery.

Conclusions:

• Virtual hospitalist programs can be a valuable tool for managing surges in patient demand and healthcare crises.
• This model offers a flexible approach to staffing and care delivery, particularly when in-person limitations exist.
• Virtual hospitalists hold significant potential for future healthcare delivery, enhancing both capacity and specialized services like palliative care.