Evaluation of a Veteran-specific Clinic Video Telehealth Pilot Project

• Clinical video telehealth (CVT) is the use of video and audio to perform real-time patient evaluations.
• The use of CVT for homebound veterans with chronic illnesses may improve outcomes for veterans with a chronic condition.
• Variables measured via a retrospective chart review included the number of emergency room visits, admissions, scheduled home visits, unscheduled home visits, and length of stay.
• An independent t test found fewer emergency room visits during CVT care and post-CVT care.
• There was an increased number of unscheduled home NP visits post-CVT in comparison with pre-CVT.

Clinical video telehealth (CVT) combined with telemonitoring for homebound veterans with chronic illnesses may improve outcomes for veterans with a chronic condition cared for at home. This retrospective chart review examined the number of emergency room visits, admissions, length of stay, scheduled home visits, and unscheduled home visits. An independent t test found fewer emergency room visits during CVT care compared with after CVT care and an increased number of unscheduled home visits after CVT compared with before CVT. As CVT expands, more research will be added to the growing body of knowledge. Positive findings indicate that CVT should be further studied in the chronically ill homebound population.