To examine trends in timely postdischarge follow-up rates among hospitalized children in Ontario, Canada, and assess the impact of a virtual care remuneration policy on these rates.
Approach:
Study Design: Population-based, repeated cross-sectional study using interrupted time series analysis.
Data Sources: Linked data from multiple population-level administrative databases held at ICES, covering hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and demographic information.
Study Period: March 1, 2011, to June 30, 2024, divided into three eras: pre-virtual care, temporary virtual care, and current virtual care.
Primary Exposure: Implementation of a virtual care remuneration policy on December 1, 2022.
Primary Outcome: Monthly rate of physician follow-up visits within specified timeframes post-discharge.
Key Findings:
Timely follow-up after discharge is crucial for patient safety and reducing rehospitalizations.
28% to 62% of children miss scheduled postdischarge visits.
Interest in virtual care for postdischarge follow-up is high among families (85%).
Interpretation:
The study aims to examine trends in timely postdischarge follow-up rates and assess the impact of a virtual care remuneration policy on these rates.
Limitations:
Exclusion of the temporary virtual care era data due to confounding factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Potential inequities in virtual care access among different demographic groups.
Conclusion:
The study seeks to provide insights into the association between virtual care policies and postdischarge follow-up rates among children.
