Stanford Healthcare's emergency department successfully implemented a virtual video telemedicine model during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to extend the application of technology beyond the immediate crisis. The initiative, spearheaded by Patrice Callagy and Sam Shen, introduced a virtual fast-track zone in the emergency department lobby equipped with digital tools.
This innovative approach allowed physicians to remotely attend to multiple low-acuity patients in paediatric and adult emergency departments, as well as walk-in clinics. The implementation also featured an emergency department video-visit track-board in the electronic health record (EHR), enabling physicians to efficiently manage patient queues and conduct telehealth visits.
Before the virtual visits, physicians typically attended to one patient at a time, resulting in longer wait periods between examinations. With the virtual fast-track program, the emergency department streamlined the process, enabling physicians to provide care more rapidly and cover a broader range of patients. Patient feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with higher satisfaction rates reported for the virtual care compared to the regular emergency department services. The success of this telemedicine model underscores the potential for advancing such technology, particularly within emergency departments, to enhance efficiency and expedite patient access to medical care.
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