Virtual Clinics in Cardiology: Do They Provide Equivalent Care and Reduce Travel?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• The integration of virtual clinic appointments in cardiology is expanding.
• Evaluating the equivalence of virtual versus face-to-face appointments is crucial for healthcare delivery.
• Assessing the impact on patient investigations and travel is essential for comprehensive care evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if virtual cardiology appointments are equivalent to traditional face-to-face visits.
• To compare the number of investigations resulting from virtual versus in-person cardiology appointments.
• To assess the reduction in travel distance for patients throughout the entire care episode.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational cohort study involving 9445 patients referred for new cardiology appointments.
• Data extraction from electronic records and test ordering systems, with validation for accuracy.
• Statistical analysis using principle component analysis and Welch t-test to compare virtual and face-to-face groups.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference was observed in the number of investigations or follow-up visits between virtual and face-to-face cardiology appointments.
• The clinical effectiveness and quality of care were comparable across both virtual and face-to-face appointment types.
• A total reduction of 5002 km in travel distance and 784 kgCO2eq in carbon emissions was noted, primarily from the initial virtual consultation.

Conclusions:

• Virtual Clinics in Cardiology offer an equitable service comparable to traditional face-to-face appointments.
• The study indicates virtual appointments do not negatively impact the number of investigations or quality of care.
• While offering some benefits, the overall reduction in patient travel for the entire care episode is modest.