Virtual Visits for Acute, Nonurgent Care: A Claims Analysis of Episode-Level Utilization.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Expansion of virtual health care-real-time video consultation with a physician via the Internet-will continue as use of mobile devices and patient demand for immediate, convenient access to care grow.

Objective

The objective of the study is to analyze the care provided and the cost of virtual visits over a 3-week episode compared with in-person visits to retail health clinics (RHC), urgent care centers (UCC), emergency departments (ED), or primary care physicians (PCP) for acute, nonurgent conditions.

Methods

A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of claims from a large commercial health insurer was performed to compare care and cost of patients receiving care via virtual visits for a condition of interest (sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, urinary

SUBMITTER: Gordon AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5336603 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature