Application of Internet hospitals for first-visit patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic in China

BACKGROUND: There has been controversy over whether to carry out online medical inquiries and electronic prescription for first-visit patients. While Internet hospitals have become crucial to ensure providing online diagnosis and prescription needs for first-visit COVID-positive patients. OBJECTIVE: We describe the results and advantages of online medical treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and analyse the results and advantages of online medical treatment. METHODS: Data were collected from the patients who received online medical inquiry services through the COVID-19 Special Section of our Internet hospital. The user demographic characteristics, user behaviour, clinical symptoms and medical records were collected. Baseline data of offline outpatient patients were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 16 173 online medical inquiries were included. The daily online outpatient service volume reached a peak of 2446 person-times. The median age was 29.92 years (SD 15.59), ranging from 20–39 years (n = 8870, 54.84%). A total of 89.20% (n = 14 426/16 173) patients had epidemic-related symptoms. Moreover, 23.35% of the people were diagnosed as COVID-19-positive through antigen or nucleic acid testing. Furthermore, 86.61% (14 008/16 173) of the patients visited our hospital for the first time or had no offline physical outpatient service record within the past 3 months. The demand for medical inquiries was mainly for drug dispensing, followed by medication guidance and disease diagnosis. And 2.07% (334/16 173) of the patients needed to go to the offline hospital for further treatment. CONCLUSION: The service model of the COVID-19 Special Section based on Internet hospitals provided the public with the necessary medical support during the COVID-19 outbreak. It provides a reference for future pandemics or public health emergencies.