Telemedicine or In-Person: Referral Letter Content Influencing How a Patient Receives Treatment

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated hospital-based specialist services that provide both traditional hospital outpatient appointments (in-person) or through a live videoconferencing session (telehealth) to referred patients. Referral letters submitted to these clinics were assessed against an inclusion criterion and grouped according to which of delivery method the patient received for their appointment (in-person or telehealth). These groups were then compared for differences to see what factors, if any, influence the likelihood of a patient being offered a telehealth appointment. METHODS: An extract of all referral letters meeting inclusion criteria between July 01, 2019 and June 30, 2020 were collected (n = 441). Letters were grouped according to delivery modality (in-person or telehealth) and differences between the groups, including variables such as patient demographics, clinical condition, and urgency and the reviewing clinician were assessed for associations. RESULTS: This study observed that where the referring clinician suggested a telehealth appointment for their patient, this was more likely to be offered (38.25%) compared with referrals that did not (7.36%) (x(2)(1) (=) 28.33, p = 0.1857, odds ratio = 2.77). Patients were more likely to be offered a telehealth appointment the further they lived from the treating facility (T = −4.51 on 106.59 df, p = 1.622 e-05). Variation in the selection of delivery modality among reviewing clinicians was also observed (x(2)(1) = 42.334, p < 1.42e-08). DISCUSSION: Existing research indicates there is a strong link between the perceptions clinicians as individuals have of telehealth and a willingness to offer this modality to patients. Despite this, specific information about a patient contained within a referral letter may influence the delivery modality that the patient will be offered for their initial appointment. It is important that this information is more routinely included in letters sent by referring clinicians to hospital-based specialist services. It is equally important that when included, this information is identified and actioned by reviewing clinicians in a consistent way. Doing so will benefit patients by increasing the likelihood that they will receive specialist outpatient care in a manner that suits them best.