Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic
Background While telehealth utilization has decreased following the COVID-19 pandemic, the incorporation of remote visits into ambulatory cardiology practice guidelines remains a necessity. The aim of this study was to survey cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices post-pandemic, and to p...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251364928 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849335585251000320 |
|---|---|
| author | Jennifer Miao Claire S Duvernoy Paul D Varosy Paul Theriot Anne Rzeszut S Elissa Altin |
| author_facet | Jennifer Miao Claire S Duvernoy Paul D Varosy Paul Theriot Anne Rzeszut S Elissa Altin |
| author_sort | Jennifer Miao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background While telehealth utilization has decreased following the COVID-19 pandemic, the incorporation of remote visits into ambulatory cardiology practice guidelines remains a necessity. The aim of this study was to survey cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices post-pandemic, and to propose clinical workflow models for remote visit types. Methods A 25-item survey was distributed to 481 American College of Cardiology CardioSurve panelists from 14 April 2023 through 11 May 2023. Descriptive analyses were conducted to evaluate provider demographics and reported percentages of responses to opinions and statements in the questionnaire. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed to determine statistically significant associations between categorical variables. Kruskal–Wallis H tests were performed on telemedicine visit frequency offered before, during, and after the pandemic. Results Seventy percent of respondents continue to offer telemedicine visits post-pandemic. Early career cardiologists were more likely to offer telemedicine visits compared to later career colleagues ( p = 0.004). The odds ratio for offering telemedicine visits for early career compared to late-career was 5.56 (95% CI [1.910, 16.277]) and 1.394 (95% CI [0.594, 3.269]) for mid-career compared to late-career. Sixty-three percent of respondents reported that lack of reliable internet access posed challenges for outpatient visits, and approximately one-third believed that the risk for malpractice increased when providing care remotely. Only 22% of cardiologists reported the use of telepresenters. Three clinical workflow models were then constructed to address potential barriers to telehealth implementation. Conclusions Cardiologists continue to offer telehealth visits, but concerns persist regarding the feasibility and appropriateness for a variety of ambulatory encounter types. To address these concerns, we have proposed several models for telehealth integration into various outpatient settings to optimize access to care and lighten the burden placed on an already diminishing cardiology workforce. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e329c5eb899416d8b36a5a08f91a1c7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-0e329c5eb899416d8b36a5a08f91a1c72025-08-20T03:45:14ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762025-08-011110.1177/20552076251364928Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemicJennifer Miao0Claire S Duvernoy1Paul D Varosy2Paul Theriot3Anne Rzeszut4S Elissa Altin5 Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, , New Haven, CT, USA Department of Cardiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Electrophysiology Section, , , Aurora, CO, USA , Washington, DC, USA , Washington, DC, USA West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Haven, CT, USABackground While telehealth utilization has decreased following the COVID-19 pandemic, the incorporation of remote visits into ambulatory cardiology practice guidelines remains a necessity. The aim of this study was to survey cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices post-pandemic, and to propose clinical workflow models for remote visit types. Methods A 25-item survey was distributed to 481 American College of Cardiology CardioSurve panelists from 14 April 2023 through 11 May 2023. Descriptive analyses were conducted to evaluate provider demographics and reported percentages of responses to opinions and statements in the questionnaire. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were performed to determine statistically significant associations between categorical variables. Kruskal–Wallis H tests were performed on telemedicine visit frequency offered before, during, and after the pandemic. Results Seventy percent of respondents continue to offer telemedicine visits post-pandemic. Early career cardiologists were more likely to offer telemedicine visits compared to later career colleagues ( p = 0.004). The odds ratio for offering telemedicine visits for early career compared to late-career was 5.56 (95% CI [1.910, 16.277]) and 1.394 (95% CI [0.594, 3.269]) for mid-career compared to late-career. Sixty-three percent of respondents reported that lack of reliable internet access posed challenges for outpatient visits, and approximately one-third believed that the risk for malpractice increased when providing care remotely. Only 22% of cardiologists reported the use of telepresenters. Three clinical workflow models were then constructed to address potential barriers to telehealth implementation. Conclusions Cardiologists continue to offer telehealth visits, but concerns persist regarding the feasibility and appropriateness for a variety of ambulatory encounter types. To address these concerns, we have proposed several models for telehealth integration into various outpatient settings to optimize access to care and lighten the burden placed on an already diminishing cardiology workforce.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251364928 |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Miao Claire S Duvernoy Paul D Varosy Paul Theriot Anne Rzeszut S Elissa Altin Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic Digital Health |
| title | Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Cardiologists’ perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | cardiologists perceptions on telehealth practices and limitations during and following the covid 19 pandemic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076251364928 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jennifermiao cardiologistsperceptionsontelehealthpracticesandlimitationsduringandfollowingthecovid19pandemic AT clairesduvernoy cardiologistsperceptionsontelehealthpracticesandlimitationsduringandfollowingthecovid19pandemic AT pauldvarosy cardiologistsperceptionsontelehealthpracticesandlimitationsduringandfollowingthecovid19pandemic AT paultheriot cardiologistsperceptionsontelehealthpracticesandlimitationsduringandfollowingthecovid19pandemic AT annerzeszut cardiologistsperceptionsontelehealthpracticesandlimitationsduringandfollowingthecovid19pandemic AT selissaaltin cardiologistsperceptionsontelehealthpracticesandlimitationsduringandfollowingthecovid19pandemic |