The verdict is in—in a post-pandemic landscape, consumers are craving convenient, digital healthcare options that are easily accessible. When it comes to asynchronous telehealth, we already know how it benefits patients with mental health concerns and Covid-19 symptoms, along with alleviating providers of overwhelm and helping solve workforce issues. But we also wanted to spotlight a question we hear often: can asynchronous telehealth truly provide the same level of quality care as other modalities?
The safety and effectiveness of asynchronous care
How does asynchronous telehealth measure up in terms of care quality? Quality metrics are a critical part of our clinical content team’s focus. We reference the Institute of Medicine (IOM)’s six domains of healthcare quality to help gauge quality and outcomes of Bright.md, which are: safety, effectiveness, being patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. Bright.md measures care quality through the following metrics tied to each of these domains:
- Strep pharyngitis and diagnosis rate
- Antibiotic prescribing rate
- Treatment effectiveness rate
- Continuity of care
- Mental health access
- Clinical interview thoroughness
According to data compiled from Bright.md’s asynchronous interviews between April 2022 and March 2023, it’s clear asynchronous telehealth compares well to the domains defined by IOM and quality metrics and standards sourced from a number of evidence-based studies. For instance, 10 percent of patients who presented with a sore throat and were treated through Bright.md were diagnosed with strep pharyngitis (adults only; benchmark: 5-15 percent prevalence rate).
Additionally, 35 percent of patients with an upper respiratory infection were prescribed antibiotics (benchmark: 25 percent to 39 percent antibiotic prescribing rate in an ambulatory care setting), while 89 percent of patients treated through Bright.md did not seek follow-up care within 30 days for the same condition (benchmark: 76 percent of primary care office visits did not seek follow-up care within seven days). This proves asynchronous care is successful in truly replacing in-person or video visits—rather than being an addition.
Bright.md’s asynchronous telehealth solution was also designed to help promote continuity of care by integrating directly with a health system’s EHR. For patients treated through Bright.md, 100 percent of interviews treated by a provider had an automated chart note added to the patient’s EHR record, which is critical for continuity and long-term outcomes.
For those with mental health concerns, one in every five patients treated for anxiety/depression through Bright.md said they only sought care because Bright.md was an available option.
But what about clinical thoroughness? Can patients be successfully treated through Bright.md without fear of sacrificing the value of a face-to-face interaction with a provider? According to our data, 79 percent of patient interviews reviewed by a provider were treated asynchronously through Bright.md, proving the effectiveness of the care modality and physician comfort in treating patients this way.
Care that’s patient-centered, equitable, and timely
Delivering quality care that puts the patients at the center is at the heart of what we do at Bright.md. Our asynchronous care solution tackles access issues for patients head-on—issues like a lack of broadband or transportation required to get to primary or urgent care clinics. With Bright.md, 69 percent of patients accessed care through their mobile device, while 97 percent of patients located in a small town or rural area enjoyed their experience with Bright.md.
Not to mention, the time it takes to find and receive care for patients or deliver care for providers through Bright.md streamlines the process and ultimately reduces costs for treating low-acuity conditions. Patients spend, on average, just 14 minutes completing their clinical interview when accessing care through Bright.md, while they wait just eight minutes on average for a diagnosis and care plan from a provider. As for your clinicians? Thanks to our thorough clinical content modules that recommend a diagnosis and care treatment plan, while automating all charting and documentation, providers spend just two minutes on average treating patients through Bright.md.
The data doesn’t lie. When measured through the healthcare quality metrics inspired by IOM’s six domains of care—and compared with evidence-based benchmarks for primary and urgent care—asynchronous telehealth allows patients to receive safe, quick, and effective healthcare from the convenience of their home and on their schedule, without sacrificing care quality.
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