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Orthopaedic Oncologic Consultation Using Asynchronous Telemedicine: Expedited Triage and Reduced Clinic Visits
Jonathan D Kass1, Nicholas C Arpey, Devin J Conway
1From the College of Medicine, University of Florida (Kass); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (Arpey, Conway, Gibbs, Scarborough, and Spiguel).
Summary
Asynchronous telemedicine offers faster triage for orthopedic oncology patients, especially those far from clinics. This approach can reduce wait times and unnecessary in-person visits.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Oncology
- Digital Health
- Telemedicine
Background:
- Asynchronous telemedicine shows promise for improving healthcare access and patient triage.
- Its specific role in orthopaedic oncology care delivery remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the response time of asynchronous telemedicine consults in orthopaedic oncology.
- To characterize the triage outcomes associated with this care delivery model.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 268 patients managed via asynchronous telemedicine by an orthopaedic oncologist.
- Data collected included demographics, clinical information, consult response times, and triage outcomes.
- Response times were compared to synchronous telehealth wait times using the Mann-Whitney U test.
Main Results:
- The average response time for asynchronous consults was 6.9 days, significantly faster than the 17.0-day wait for synchronous telehealth (P < 0.01).
- Nearly half of patients (48.9%) were recommended for an in-person visit, with 15.7% proceeding to biopsy or surgery.
- Remote patients (over 100 miles) benefited significantly from this expedited triage.
Conclusions:
- Asynchronous telemedicine effectively expedites the triage process for orthopaedic oncology patients.
- It can decrease unnecessary in-person consultations, proving advantageous for patients residing far from medical centers.
- Further research is warranted to evaluate clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
