Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-09-10eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261483461
Ji Eun Kim, Myung Gyu Kim, Jin Joo Cha, Eun Jung Cho, Young Joo Kwon, Gang-Jee Ko
{"title":"Remote Monitoring in Automated Peritoneal Dialysis Improves Treatment Adherence and Reduces Hospitalization Burden: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.","authors":"Ji Eun Kim, Myung Gyu Kim, Jin Joo Cha, Eun Jung Cho, Young Joo Kwon, Gang-Jee Ko","doi":"10.1177/26924366261483461","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261483461","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Remote patient monitoring (RPM) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) has the potential to improve adherence and clinical outcomes, yet comparative real-world data among PD modalities are limited. This study aimed to compare PD treatment adherence, hospitalization burden, fluid status, and health care costs among patients undergoing continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD), automated PD (APD), and remote monitoring-assisted APD (RM-APD).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this prospective multicenter cohort study, 73 patients maintained on a single PD modality for ≥1 year were enrolled (CAPD: <i>n</i> = 26; APD: <i>n</i> = 23; RM-APD: <i>n</i> = 24). Treatment adherence was defined as the proportion of prescribed PD treatments actually performed (sessions for APD/RM-APD; exchanges for CAPD), expressed on a per-treatment-day basis derived from each patient's prescription and dialysate supply records. In RM-APD patients, supply-based estimates were cross-validated against Sharesource treatment records. Fluid status was evaluated using the overhydration-to-extracellular water ratio (OH/ECW%). Hospitalization days, emergency department visits, health care costs, and clinical parameters were assessed over 1 year.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The RM-APD group showed the highest treatment adherence (median 83.4%, interquartile range 81.0-88.2), compared with 81.0% in CAPD and 78.4% in APD (Kruskal-Wallis <i>p</i> = 0.010). Adjusted analysis confirmed superior adherence in RM-APD compared with APD (<i>p</i> = 0.013) and CAPD (<i>p</i> = 0.041). In a subset of RM-APD patients, the supply-based estimate correlated well with Sharesource-recorded treatment delivery. RM-APD patients had significantly fewer hospitalization days (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.34; 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.49; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower inpatient costs than APD (<i>p</i> = 0.037). OH/ECW% reduction was greater in RM-APD than CAPD (<i>p</i> = 0.042), while nutritional markers, dialysis adequacy (Kt/V), and ejection fraction were comparable across groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Integration of remote monitoring into APD was associated with improved adherence, reduced hospitalization burden, and better volume control compared with conventional PD modalities. These findings provide real-world evidence that RPM-enabled home dialysis can enhance both clinical outcomes and health care efficiency, supporting broader implementation of telehealth-based care models for patients with end-stage kidney disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261483461"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13562868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148957782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-09-04eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261484746
Jonathan G Wu, Matthew T Muffly, Amanda Sirisoma, Mrudula Akkinepally, Caesar Z Li, John P Andrawis
{"title":"Postoperative PROMIS Scores from Sports Medicine Patients Randomized to Telehealth Virtual or In-Person Follow-Up from a Safety-Net Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial with a Superiority Framework.","authors":"Jonathan G Wu, Matthew T Muffly, Amanda Sirisoma, Mrudula Akkinepally, Caesar Z Li, John P Andrawis","doi":"10.1177/26924366261484746","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261484746","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This randomized controlled trial compared the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of patients who attended virtual telehealth visits with those of patients who attended in-person visits at their postoperative sports medicine appointments in a safety-net population. This is a parallel group trial with a 1:1 allocation ratio with a superiority framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This trial enrolled 90 patients who received operative sports intervention at one clinic. The intervention group (48 patients) attended telehealth visits. The control group (42 patients) attended standard in-person visits. Primary outcomes were Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global-Physical (GH-P) and PROMIS Global-Mental (GH-M) scores obtained at the 6-month visit. Welch's <i>t</i>-test and Pearson chi-square test analyses were utilized. <i>Post hoc</i> inverse probability weighting (IPW) analysis accounted for covariate imbalance. Statistical significance was based on an α level of 0.05. <i>Post hoc</i> adjustment of the α level was 0.013.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighty patients were included in the primary analysis. The telehealth group (45 patients) had a mean GH-P score 50.46 (standard deviation [SD] 7.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] [48.11-52.81]), whereas the in-person group (35 patients) had a mean score of 50.26 (SD 7.76; 95% CI [47.60-52.92]), with Δ = 0.20, <i>p</i> = 0.91, IPW-adjusted <i>p</i> = 0.59, with negligible effect (<i>d</i> = 0.03, 95% CI [-0.42 to 0.47]). For the GH-M score, the telehealth group had a mean 56.51 (SD 10.02; 95% CI [53.50-59.52]), and the in-person group had 60.21 (SD 8.47; 95% CI [57.30-63.12]), with Δ = 3.70, <i>p</i> = 0.08, IPW-adjusted <i>p</i> = 0.17, with small effect (<i>d</i> = -0.4, 95% CI [-0.85 to 0.05]). None of the score differences between the two groups were statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This study lacks statistical evidence to state that there is a difference in PROMIS scores between the telehealth and in-person groups. The difference of the means between the two groups is less than the minimal clinically important difference obtained from the literature. Due to participant attrition, the study was underpowered. Limitations include retrospective registration of this trial, an increased risk of making a type 2 error, having 23% of telehealth participants cross over to the in-person group, conducting 71% of telehealth visits by video and 29% by phone, and completing surveys using different methods. These limitations are potential systematic errors that weaken the study's internal validity.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>Level 1-prospective randomized controlled trial.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261484746"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13546470/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-08-24eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261473481
Nupur Gupta, James J Harrigan, Aryn Andrzejewski, Jacob C Hodges, Rima C Abdel-Massih, John W Mellors
{"title":"How Does Tele-ID Inpatient Care Compare to In-Person Care? Results from a Tertiary Academic Medical Center.","authors":"Nupur Gupta, James J Harrigan, Aryn Andrzejewski, Jacob C Hodges, Rima C Abdel-Massih, John W Mellors","doi":"10.1177/26924366261473481","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261473481","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Remote telemedicine ID consults (Tele-ID) are effective for community hospital inpatients. Tele-ID is not used at academic medical centers (AMCs) as onsite ID physicians are often available. During the COVID-19 pandemic, intra-hospital Tele-ID was implemented to conserve PPE and reduce SARS-CoV-2 exposure. In this study, we compared outcomes of Tele-ID to in-person ID.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A longitudinal, matched, case-control study was conducted at three Pittsburgh tertiary AMCs. Cases were evaluated via Tele-ID (video, e-consults, and telephonic consults) between 3/1/20 and 5/31/20. In-person consults between 3/1/19 and 11/30/19 were matched by demographics, transplant status, comorbidity indices, and ID-specific diagnoses. Both groups were evaluated by general ID (GID) or transplant ID (TID) physicians. Patients with COVID-19 were excluded. Outcomes included in-hospital, and 30-day mortality, 30-day readmission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and ICU length of stay (LOS).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the Tele-ID group, 125 inpatients were evaluated by GID and 81 by TID. The majority were Caucasian, male, and non-ICU. A broad range of ID diagnoses were made, most commonly bacteremia and pneumonia. Average hospital LOS post-ID consult was 6.26 days (GID) and 6.5 days (TID). For ICU patients, average LOS was 12 days (GID) and 7.6 days (TID). There were 5 (4%) and 3 (3.7%) in-hospital deaths, and 3 (2.4%) and 5 (6.2%) deaths at 30 days for GID and TID, respectively. 173 cases were matched to 966 controls by ID diagnosis. Rates of 30-day readmission, ICU admission, in-hospital and 30-day mortality were similar between groups. ICU LOS was shorter in the Tele-ID group (70 vs. 386 h; <i>p</i> = 0.006), although this study was not powered for ICU LOS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>During the pandemic, intra-hospital Tele-ID was an effective alternative to in-person ID consults at large AMCs, with shorter ICU LOS and similar 30-day readmission, ICU admission, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and suggests that Tele-ID can be used at AMCs safely and effectively in non-pandemic settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261473481"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13504104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-08-09eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261477203
Yue Zhang
{"title":"Clinical Efficacy Over Privacy: Public Prioritization of Risk Dimensions in Telesurgery Acceptance Among Young Adults with Higher Education.","authors":"Yue Zhang","doi":"10.1177/26924366261477203","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261477203","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>5G-enabled telesurgery and robotic systems could improve access to specialist care, but acceptance remains limited by perceived risks. The relative importance of different risk dimensions is unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine how four risk perceptions (network latency, privacy leakage, treatment outcome difference, and postoperative rehabilitation outcome difference) affect acceptance intention among young and highly educated adults, and to derive implications for ethical risk communication and governance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A convenience sample survey was conducted among 345 university students. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and multiple linear regression were used to test associations between risk perceptions and acceptance intention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The four risk dimensions explained 26.3% of the variance in acceptance intention (adjusted <i>R</i> <sup>2</sup> = 0.263; <i>F</i>[4,340] = 31.639; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Acceptance intention was significantly and negatively associated with rehabilitation outcome risk (<i>β</i> = -0.318, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and treatment outcome risk (<i>β</i> = -0.160, <i>p</i> = 0.013). Network latency risk showed a marginal association (<i>β</i> = -0.126, <i>p</i> = 0.051), whereas privacy leakage risk was not significant (<i>β</i> = 0.005, <i>p</i> = 0.934).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>For young, highly educated respondents, perceived clinical effectiveness, particularly rehabilitation, was more predictive of acceptance intention than operational performance or privacy concerns. Risk communication and oversight should prioritize transparent evidence on treatment and rehabilitation outcomes and use differentiated messaging; privacy protection should be integrated into informed consent in a patient-relevant and decision-consistent manner.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261477203"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13454640/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148709154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-08-05eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261476882
Niloofar Sani, Mohammad Torabi, Mojtaba Khazaei, Mohammadreza Shokouhi
{"title":"Nurse-Led Tele-Education Improves Self-Efficacy and Reduces Stroke Readmissions: A Quasi-Experimental Study.","authors":"Niloofar Sani, Mohammad Torabi, Mojtaba Khazaei, Mohammadreza Shokouhi","doi":"10.1177/26924366261476882","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261476882","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. Low self-efficacy and high hospital readmission rates remain major barriers to successful post-stroke rehabilitation. Nurse-led tele-education has emerged as a potential strategy to support continuity of care after hospital discharge.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the impact of a structured nurse-led tele-education and follow-up program on self-efficacy and hospital readmission among stroke survivors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study with a control group was conducted between April 2023 and August 2024 among stroke patients discharged from two tertiary hospitals in Hamadan, Iran. Eligible participants were allocated to intervention (<i>n</i> = 127) and control (<i>n</i> = 127) groups using a simple random number table. Eligible participants were allocated to intervention (n = 127) and control (<i>n</i> = 127) groups using a simple random number table. Because blinding was not feasible, the study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design. The intervention group received a 2-week tele-education program delivered via a mobile messaging application, complemented by weekly nurse-led follow-up calls, while the control group received usual discharge care with monthly follow-up contacts. Self-efficacy was assessed at baseline and 6 weeks after discharge using the Persian version of the Stroke Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Hospital readmission was monitored over a 6-month follow-up period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants (mean age: 65.32 ± 7.25 years) showed no baseline self-efficacy differences. Post-intervention, the intervention group had significantly higher self-efficacy scores (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower 6-month readmission rates (9.6% vs. 21.2%, OR = 2.51, <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Early, structured tele-nursing was associated with higher self-efficacy and lower hospital readmission rates among stroke survivors. This model appears feasible, scalable, and potentially cost-effective for post-stroke care.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261476882"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13443376/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148687304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-08-04eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261475093
Selina J Chang, Vrusha K Shah, Joseph C English
{"title":"Clinical Utility of Store-and-Forward Inpatient Teledermatology for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Care in the Burn Unit.","authors":"Selina J Chang, Vrusha K Shah, Joseph C English","doi":"10.1177/26924366261475093","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261475093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe dermatologic emergencies that require rapid diagnosis and specialized care, but access to inpatient dermatology consults is often limited. While store-and-forward inpatient teledermatology (SAFIT) has been used for triaging suspected cases, its role in ongoing disease management remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To characterize the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with SJS/TEN managed by SAFIT, and to compare these measures according to whether the SAFIT consult occurred before or after burn unit admission.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective case series of 15 consecutive patients with teledermatologist-confirmed SJS/TEN managed by SAFIT at a tertiary-care burn center. Clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and patient outcomes were evaluated and compared based on the timing of teledermatology involvement relative to burn unit transfer. Time-to-biopsy after SAFIT consult was measured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort was 60.0% male with a mean age of 45.4 years. Mean SCORTEN was 1.6 ± 0.3, and mean body surface area involvement was 18.8 ± 5.9%. Biopsies were obtained in 93.3% of cases, with a mean time-to-biopsy of 2.5 ± 0.7 h after SAFIT consult. SAFIT initiated transfers to a burn center in 40.0% of cases, while 60.0% received their SAFIT consult after burn unit admission. There were no significant differences between groups in demographics, disease severity, treatment patterns, or clinical outcomes, including mortality, complications, and length of hospitalization. Mortality rates were consistent with expected ranges for SJS/TEN.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>When combined with burn unit care, SAFIT facilitates timely diagnosis and management of SJS/TEN, with comparable outcomes to prior literature regardless of consult timing. These findings suggest a role for SAFIT in standardizing and expanding access to dermatologic care. Future multicenter studies are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261475093"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13438329/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148681626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-07-24eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261470600
Omar Mohammed Saggaf, Abdullah AbdulAziz Khojah, Ghada Raja Alharbi
{"title":"Patient Experience, Satisfaction, and Characteristics at a Capsule Telemedicine Clinic: A Cross-Sectional Survey.","authors":"Omar Mohammed Saggaf, Abdullah AbdulAziz Khojah, Ghada Raja Alharbi","doi":"10.1177/26924366261470600","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261470600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Telemedicine is now integral to health care delivery in Saudi Arabia. This study assessed patient characteristics, visit contexts, and patient-reported experiences at a capsule telemedicine clinic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 40 adult users of a capsule telemedicine clinic located within Masjid Al-Haram, Mecca, during a busy Ramadan Umrah period. Participants completed a questionnaire on demographics, visit context, satisfaction with services, clarity of results, and post-visit outcomes. Experience and outcome measures were summarized using descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The median age was 50 years. Umrah pilgrims and other visitors comprised 75% and 25%, respectively. Visit reasons were evenly split between feeling unwell and routine checkups (40% each), with 20% for follow-up of an existing condition. Patient experience was highly positive: 95% (95% CI, 84-99) rated the location convenient, and 100% (95% CI, 91-100) rated staff helpfulness, service efficiency, and result clarity as \"Good.\" After teleconsultation, 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91-100) felt more confident about their health and would recommend the service. Twenty percent (8/40; 95% CI, 11-35) were referred for hospital evaluation, and no adverse events occurred. Exploratory subgroup comparisons suggested possible differences in referral patterns, but the small sample size precluded definitive inference.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Patients reported high satisfaction with the capsule telemedicine service during a Ramadan Umrah period. Most participants were not referred for immediate hospital evaluation, suggesting potential feasibility and acceptability in high-density pilgrimage settings. Further studies with clinical follow-up and objective outcome measures are needed to assess effectiveness and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261470600"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422697/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148655515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-07-23eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261470583
Nancy Heffernan, MaryPat Porinchak, Shiela M Strauss, Margaret Barton-Burke, AnnMarie Mazzella-Ebstein
{"title":"Telehealth and Time-to-Treatment Initiation Among Breast Cancer Patients During COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Nancy Heffernan, MaryPat Porinchak, Shiela M Strauss, Margaret Barton-Burke, AnnMarie Mazzella-Ebstein","doi":"10.1177/26924366261470583","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261470583","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>COVID-19 caused disruptions in access to oncology health care for patients with breast cancer. This study explored the time differences in days from the initial patient call to time-to-treatment initiation (TTI) and evaluated the relationship between initial in-person consult (IPC) and telehealth consult (THC).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective data were collected for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021. Demographic characteristics were summarized for each year. Chi-square and nonparametric tests were used to examine demographic data, differences in the number of THCs versus IPCs each year, differences in TTI for patients who had THC versus IPC for each study year, and overall differences across each of the study years in TTI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Records from 960 patients included 447 IPCs in 2019; 81 THCs and 47 IPCs in 2020; and 26 THCs and 359 IPCs in 2021. Significant differences were found for age (<i>p</i> = 0.013) between 2019, 2020, and 2021 (medians of 55, 51, and 55, respectively). Differences between the number of IPCs versus THCs from 2019 to 2021 combined were statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.001): 2019 (no THCs), 2020 (63% THCs vs. 37% IPCs), and 2021 (93% IPCs vs. 7% THCs). In 2019-2021, TTI was greater for patients who had an IPC versus those who had a THC; the median TTI was 28 days for THC versus 33 days for IPC, <i>p</i> = 0.045.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings suggest that THCs did not delay and may accelerate TTI. Further studies examining the relationship of initial consult type to TTI are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261470583"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422719/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148655493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-07-09eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261465276
Sara Al-Ajlouny, Zhaoqiang Zhou, Suguna Kotte, Jamie Conklin, John Jenkins, David McSwain, Saif Khairat
{"title":"Bridging the Gaps in School-Based Telehealth: A Scoping Review and Evaluation Framework.","authors":"Sara Al-Ajlouny, Zhaoqiang Zhou, Suguna Kotte, Jamie Conklin, John Jenkins, David McSwain, Saif Khairat","doi":"10.1177/26924366261465276","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261465276","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This scoping review aimed to characterize the implementation of telehealth interventions in U.S. K-12 school settings, map how their performance and outcomes have been evaluated across a standardized evaluation taxonomy, and develop a conceptual framework to address gaps in evaluation practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a scoping review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, searching PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Google Scholar for studies published between January 2019 and April 2026. Two reviewers independently screened records and extracted data on study characteristics, intervention types, and evaluation domains. Measures were classified into a standardized taxonomy and synthesized using descriptive mapping and frequency analysis. Framework development was iterative and informed by extracted findings, conceptual review, and integration of existing implementation and evaluation models, alongside policy guidance relevant to school-based telehealth (SBTH).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,217 records were identified, with 22 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Studies were heterogeneous across service lines and methodologies. Evaluation most frequently focused on access and utilization, satisfaction or acceptability, and implementation outcomes, while health outcomes, cost, academic outcomes, and sustainability were less consistently assessed. Evaluation approaches were fragmented, with limited use of standardized metrics and minimal integration across domains. These findings informed the development of a structured framework spanning Inputs, Implementation Processes, and Outcomes, capturing the relationships between contextual factors, service delivery, and multidimensional performance indicators.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SBTH appears feasible, acceptable, and capable of improving access to care; however, fragmented evaluation practices limit comparability and policy translation. The proposed framework provides a structured approach to guide comprehensive, longitudinal evaluation and support scalable, integrated telehealth implementation in school settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261465276"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148655498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Telemedicine reportsPub Date : 2026-06-17eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1177/26924366261456445
Jacob A Sambursky, Mark McDonald, Laurie Mayer, Yelena Vidgop, Morgan Figurelle, Megan McCoy, Oleg Collins, Lan Gao, Theresa Sevilis
{"title":"EMS Prenotification to Teleneurologists and Continuous Evaluation: The Impact on Telestroke Metrics.","authors":"Jacob A Sambursky, Mark McDonald, Laurie Mayer, Yelena Vidgop, Morgan Figurelle, Megan McCoy, Oleg Collins, Lan Gao, Theresa Sevilis","doi":"10.1177/26924366261456445","DOIUrl":"10.1177/26924366261456445","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Early initiation of intravenous thrombolytics for treatment of acute stroke leads to improved functional outcomes. Published guidelines aim to reduce door-to-needle (DTN) times in both prehospital and hospital settings without specific consideration of telestroke. Over the last decade, telestroke has become increasingly more common to provide emergency stroke care worldwide but published guidelines on specific practices have yet to be established. The implementation of EMS prearrival notifications, neurologic evaluation and thrombolytic administration in the CT imaging suite (CIS) are utilized as best practices by some programs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized the Telecare by TeleSpecialists<sup>TM</sup> database to investigate the impact of these practices on DTN times and thrombolytic treatment rates. Hospitals participating in all recommended Best Practices were considered the investigative group and those hospitals participating in all Best Practices except the variable of interest were considered the control group. Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>, and Pearson's chi-squared tests were used when appropriate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pre-notification was associated with an 8-min reduction in DTN times (<i>p</i> = 0.0026) and 3.7% increase in thrombolytic treatment rates (<i>p</i> = 0.0016). Evaluation by the neurologist in the CIS was associated with a reduction in DTN times (6-min reduction, <i>p</i> = 0.0192) and increase in thrombolytic administration rates (1.46% increase, <i>p</i> = 0.0361). Implementing administration of IV thrombolytic in the CIS was associated with similar benefits (3-min reduced DTN times, <i>p</i> = 0.0176; 2.87% increase in thrombolytic treatment rate, <i>p</i> < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, these best practices reduced DTN times and improved treatment rates supporting their integration into telestroke practices globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":94218,"journal":{"name":"Telemedicine reports","volume":"7 ","pages":"26924366261456445"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13422717/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148650106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}