Improving safety and efficiency in care: multi-stakeholders’ perceptions associated with a peritoneal dialysis virtual care solution

BACKGROUND: Although there is a growing body of literature on the outcomes and impacts of remote home management with peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, less is understood how this virtual care solution impacts the quality and efficiency of the healthcare system care. In this context, a study was undertaken to understand the perceptions of patients and their caregivers, healthcare providers, health system decision makers, and vendors associated with a remote monitoring and tracking solution aimed at enhancing the outcomes and experiences of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving PD at home. METHODS: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with 25 stakeholders was used in this study. Narrative data were analyzed by a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: The following two themes emerged from the data: (1) leveraging data to monitor and intervene to keep patients safe and (2) increasing efficiencies and having control over supplies. DISCUSSION: Our study findings elucidated the ability of patients (and in some cases, caregivers) to monitor and trend their data and order and track directly on-line their dialysis supplies were key to their active participation in managing their CKD and keeping them safe at home. Their active participation and functionality of the virtual care solution also led to enhanced efficiencies (eg, process faster, easier, convenient, time savings) for both patients and healthcare providers. CONCLUSION: The virtual care solution showed promising signs of a patient-centric approach and may serve as a blueprint for other virtual care solutions for chronic disease management.