Telehealth Integration in Primary Care

Author

Ashley SimonsFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-6-2023

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Angela Andrew

Project Team Faculty Member

Greg Jennings

Keywords

Telehealth, telemedicine, video conferencing, primary care, family practice

Abstract

Telehealth has been proven to be a useful and integral tool in primary care settings. Carlinville Family Health Care Clinic, a rural health clinic, has the current ability to conduct Telehealth visits but is not currently doing so. They have several programs available that are equipped with Telehealth capabilities. The physicians cite lack of education on these programs and lack of a standard streamlined practice for which program to use or how to use it.

According to the physicians in this practice, along with their patients, the use of Telehealth has multiple advantages. Because visits in this clinical are usually done in person, including minor issues such as medication refills or lab result reviews, physicians and patients feel that there is not enough time for patients with more cumbersome needs or requiring in office procedures. Patients also complain that it is difficult to fit appointment times in and the availabilities of appointment times. Lastly, patients complain that there are long waiting room times among other patients, which is an issue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The physicians at Carlinville Family Health Care Clinic are motivated to make Telehealth visits a routine part of their practice. Understanding the use of a standardized Telehealth program and which visits would qualify for Telehealth to improve convenience for the physician and patient, will increase Telehealth compliance in this clinic. The goal of this project is to educate physicians on a standardized Telehealth program to improve Telehealth use in Carlinville Family Health Care Clinic.

Recommended Citation

Simons, Ashley, "Telehealth Integration in Primary Care" (2023). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 239.
https://spark.siue.edu/dnpprojects/239

Download Full Text Above