An in-depth study of one clinic’s transition to telehealth

A study conducted by Todd Caze Li et al., published in JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, evaluated current tele-concussion practices. With the Covid-19 pandemic challenging the United States’ healthcare system, many clinics have transitioned to telehealth practices to protect patients by eliminating inessential visits. However, there is no standard for online assessments or treatments in the fast-changing world of concussion treatments.

The researchers performed a descriptive study at a pediatric concussion clinic to model current “assessment, management and view treatment of acute concussion” through the lens of telehealth. By collecting patient demographics, care timelines, and return-to-learn (RLC) or return-to-play (RLP) recovery periods, they described the in-person clinic’s transition to telehealth. Of 18 patients, the clinic cleared 55.6% for RLC or RLP after a median of 15.5 days. Notably, challenges such as accessibility of technology, lack of instruction, and stability of connection all pose threats to the effectiveness of an online visit.

This paper raises critical questions about access to quality healthcare from a unique framework. However, the researchers performed the study at a clinic that had previous experience providing telehealth visits. They hoped that “providing an example of how one clinic implements tele-concussion services can spur other providers to work through concerns and implementation logistics.” Though their results are valuable to understanding online healthcare’s role during the pandemic, these results are preliminary data and therefore necessitate further discussion and research.