Abstract

Objectives

We describe our approach in using health information technology to provide a continuum of services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 challenges and needs required health systems to rapidly redesign the delivery of care.

Materials and Methods

Our health system deployed 4 COVID-19 telehealth programs and 4 biomedical informatics innovations to screen and care for COVID-19 patients. Using programmatic and electronic health record data, we describe the implementation and initial utilization.

Results

Through collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and strategic planning, 4 telehealth program initiatives have been deployed in response to COVID-19: virtual urgent care screening, remote patient monitoring for COVID-19–positive patients, continuous virtual monitoring to reduce workforce risk and utilization of personal protective equipment, and the transition of outpatient care to telehealth. Biomedical informatics was integral to our institutional response in supporting clinical care through new and reconfigured technologies. Through linking the telehealth systems and the electronic health record, we have the ability to monitor and track patients through a continuum of COVID-19 services.

Discussion

COVID-19 has facilitated the rapid expansion and utilization of telehealth and health informatics services. We anticipate that patients and providers will view enhanced telehealth services as an essential aspect of the healthcare system. Continuation of telehealth payment models at the federal and private levels will be a key factor in whether this new uptake is sustained.

Conclusions

There are substantial benefits in utilizing telehealth during the COVID-19, including the ability to rapidly scale the number of patients being screened and providing continuity of care.

中文翻译：

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利用卫生系统远程医疗和信息学基础设施为 COVID-19 筛查、测试和治疗创建连续的服务。

摘要

目标

我们描述了我们在 2019 年冠状病毒病 (COVID-19) 大流行期间使用健康信息技术提供连续服务的方法。COVID-19 的挑战和需求要求卫生系统快速重新设计护理服务。

材料和方法

我们的卫生系统部署了 4 个 COVID-19 远程医疗计划和 4 个生物医学信息学创新，以筛查和护理 COVID-19 患者。使用程序化和电子健康记录数据，我们描述了实施和初始使用。

结果

通过跨多学科团队的合作和战略规划，已部署 4 项远程医疗计划计划以应对 COVID-19：虚拟紧急护理筛查、对 COVID-19 阳性患者的远程患者监测、持续虚拟监测以降低劳动力风险和利用个人防护设备，以及门诊护理向远程医疗的过渡。生物医学信息学是我们通过新的和重新配置的技术支持临床护理的机构响应的组成部分。通过连接远程医疗系统和电子健康记录，我们能够通过一系列 COVID-19 服务来监控和跟踪患者。

讨论

COVID-19 促进了远程医疗和健康信息服务的快速扩展和利用。我们预计患者和提供者会将增强的远程医疗服务视为医疗保健系统的一个重要方面。在联邦和私人层面继续使用远程医疗支付模式将是这种新的采用是否能够持续的关键因素。

结论

在 COVID-19 期间利用远程医疗有很多好处，包括能够快速扩大接受筛查的患者数量并提供连续护理。