On-Demand Telehealth Cuts GI-Related ED Visits and Boosts Patient Satisfaction
Presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting
Philadelphia, PA, October 29, 2024
A recent study by WovenX Health published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology illustrates the powerful impact of on-demand telehealth on emergency department (ED) visits and healthcare costs. With GI symptoms representing one of the most common reasons for treat-and-release ED visits in the U.S., millions of patients visit the ED each year, but fewer than 20% require admission. This gap translates into over $30 billion in unnecessary spending annually, highlighting the need for alternatives.
Key Results from the Study
In just under three months, 501 patients used the WovenX on-demand GI telehealth platform. With a median wait time of under six minutes and average appointment duration of 21 minutes, the platform connected patients to GI trained advanced practice providers quickly and effectively. Over 40% of surveyed patients reported they would have considered using an ED or urgent care if the platform was unavailable. However, only 2% of patients required an ED referral at the end of their virtual visit, a significant redirection of over 90% of patients from ED to virtual care.
Enhancing Patient Experience and Reducing Costs
Not only did the platform reduce potential ED visits, but it also provided high satisfaction, with a NPS score of 94. GI symptoms like abdominal pain, GERD, and inflammatory bowel disease were addressed promptly, saving patients from unnecessary trips to the ED. Additionally, the platform was instrumental in referring patients for necessary diagnostics or ongoing GI care when needed, enhancing patient experience and reducing ED dependency.
Expanding Access to GI Care
By integrating this platform with existing GI practices, WovenX enables more patients to get the care they need when they need it, diverting non-emergent cases from the ED, while providing GI practices with a scalable solution for expanding access and building long-term patient relationships.
Study Contributors
This study was conducted by Russ R. Arjal, MD, Chad Ellimoottil, MD, Jason Sugar, MD, Fred Rosenberg, MD, David Beswick, MD, and Naresh Gunaratnam, MD, and was presented at the 2024 American College of Gastroenterology meeting.
References
- Weiss AJ, Jiang HJ. Statistical Brief #286: Most Frequent Reasons for Emergency Department Visits, 2018.
- Suchman K, Kohn N, Trindade AJ. Emergency Department Utilization for Gastrointestinal Care and Patient Characteristics Associated with Hospital Admission.
