Use of virtual care in ophthalmology in Ontario, Canada in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the use and trends of virtual care in ophthalmology and examine associated factors in a universal health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants

Ontarians eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Methods

We used physician billing data from 2017-2020 to describe the use of virtual versus in-person care. We used logistic regression to examine factors associated with virtual care use.

Results

The uptake of ophthalmic virtual visits increased immediately following the government's directive to ramp down clinic activities and institution of a new virtual fee code (17.6%), peaked 2 weeks later (55.8%), and decreased immediately after the directive was lifted (24.2%). In March-

SUBMITTER: Jin YP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9584866 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature