The study, published Nov. 15 in JAMA Network Open, analyzed 4,133 diagnostic tests and referrals from March 2020 to December 2021 at a large, urban hospital-based primary care practice and an affiliated community health center in Boston.
Diagnostic tests and referrals, which included colonoscopies, cardiac stress test and dermatology referrals, were completed 58.4% of the time when ordered during in-person visits and 42.6% of the time when ordered during telehealth visits.
“Failure to close diagnostic loops presents a patient safety challenge in primary care that may be of particular concern during telehealth encounters,” the study authors wrote.
