Randomized pilot study of hybrid telemedicine and in-person pathways to metabolic bariatric surgery
Gretchen E Ames1, Jenna L Pennella2, Michael G Heckman3
1Division of Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
Objective:
We investigated the viability of offering a telemedicine pathway to patients seeking metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS).
Methods:
Patients were randomized to receive hybrid telemedicine (HTM, n = 21) or face-to-face (F2F, n = 22) care. Patient characteristics, program visit completion, patient satisfaction with visits, time to surgery, and insurance payor collection ratio were compared between groups.
Results:
The HTM group had a higher proportion of initial medical visits completed than the F2F group (100.0% vs 72.7%). Groups did not significantly differ in patient satisfaction with visits, time to surgery, or insurance payor collection ratio. In the HTM group, 42.9% of patients underwent MBS, whereas 27.3% underwent MBS in the F2F group. Overall, 30.2% of patients elected to initiate obesity management medications, and 34.8% discontinued the program.
Conclusion:
MBS programs may improve treatment access by offering an HTM pathway. Larger investigations are needed to confirm the effect of telemedicine on MBS program access.
