WVU Medicine uses $781K grant to greatly boost telehealth to rural patients

The health system transformed its meager telemedicine offerings with big investments in software, hardware and infrastructure.

J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital, part of the WVU Medicine health system

Photo: WVU Medicine

West Virginia is the third most rural state in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state is 24,320 square miles and is the only state located entirely in the area known as Appalachia, which faces gaps in educational achievement, employment and income as well as a variety of negative health consequences compared with the rest of the country.

THE PROBLEM

There is limited public transportation between many of the small, isolated counties and towns. According to the West Virginia Department of Transportation, only 30 of the 55 counties in the state have access to public transit systems, and only 33 counties have taxi services. 

This lack of public transportation limits those living in rural areas from accessing healthcare and other social and educational services.

In West Virginia, the number of mental health practitioners per 100,000 residents is 45% lower than the national average. The supply of specialty physicians per 100,000 residents is 21% lower than the national average.

In addition to the need for virtual care across the country as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, West Virginia's transportation constraints, as well as provider availability and dispersion, make long-term virtual services a need.

PROPOSAL

WVU Medicine (also known as West Virginia United Health System) is based in Morgantown, West Virginia. WVU Medicine had virtual care options, though with limited reimbursement. These services also are limited in scope.

"Less than 1% of all ambulatory services were completed virtually prior to 2020, and only a few providers offered the service," recalled Shannon R. McAllister, assistant vice president of population health and telemedicine. 

"The devices and increased technology services allowed us to connect patients and providers who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to receive care."

Shannon R. McAllister, WVU Medicine

"WVU Medicine's approach aimed to meet the needs of low-acuity patients with disease exposure concerns, and reducing and preventing overcrowding in emergency departments, urgent care clinics and general care clinics while also giving the reassurance and advice that patients require.

"Telemedicine directly to patients also was used to address the ongoing healthcare needs of patients with chronic illnesses to reduce in-person clinic visits," she continued. "This helped to reduce human exposures among healthcare workers and patients to a range of infectious diseases and ensure that medical supplies were reserved for patients who needed them."

In addition to the COVID-19 mitigation efforts, this greatly helped patients who often travel a great distance to see specialists who only are located at the academic medical center.

MARKETPLACE

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MEETING THE CHALLENGE

WVU Medicine's goal was to enhance its telemedicine capabilities so that all the organization's providers – physicians, APPs, therapists, registered dietitians, rehabilitative therapy staff and audiologists – could still connect with their patients and provide outstanding clinical care in the safest manner possible.

"This would help support social distancing efforts and further assist with flattening the curve," McAllister said. "The mitigation of a large surge will allow for the hospitals in the state to prepare and slow the influx of patients. WVU Medicine utilized its Epic EHR with the native video platform in conjunction with Vidyo to ensure all of the providers and patients could connect to each other."

RESULTS

In 2019, WVU Medicine had 46 providers in 23 departments participate in virtual services to 841 unique patients. By April 2020, in response to the pandemic, 50% of the ambulatory services occurred virtually, and the year finished with 1,921 providers in 515 departments providing virtual services to 71,868 patients.

"The devices and increased technology services allowed us to connect patients and providers who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to receive care," McAllister reported.

USING FCC AWARD FUNDS

WVU Medicine was awarded $780,899 by the FCC telehealth grant program for network upgrades, telemedicine carts, tablets, laptops, and videoconferencing equipment and software licenses to conduct virtual visits with patients in their homes, give inpatients the ability to use devices to talk with their families who are unable to visit due to distancing requirements, and offer healthcare opportunities in remote locations to prevent patients from traveling and risking exposure at a clinic.

"The funds have been used for software costs as well as web cameras, speakers and mobile devices," McAllister added. "Without these devices, the delivery of virtual services would not have been possible."

Twitter: @SiwickiHealthIT
Email the writer: bsiwicki@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.

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