Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Apr 29, 2021
Date Accepted: Jan 6, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: Jan 13, 2022
COVID-19 Assessment and Testing in Rural Communities During the Pandemic: A Cross Sectional Analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the need for urgent improvements in access to healthcare for rural, remote and underserviced communities. The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (VTAC vee-tac) was designed to provide access to COVID-19 testing, and assessment with a family physician. The goal was to protect emergency departments and 911 paramedics, whilst ensuring that nobody was left at home, suffering in silence. Residents were encouraged to call their own family physician for any urgent health needs. If they did not have a family physician or could not access their usual primary care provider, then they could call VTAC. This study reports on the output of a service model offering access to assessment and COVID-19 testing, through a blend of virtual and in-person care options by a multidisciplinary team.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of VTAC to provide access to COVID-19 assessment and testing across rural, remote and underserviced communities.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the data derived from the cases handled by VTAC between March 27, 2020 (launch day) to September 30, 2020.
Results:
Residents from all 19 Census Sub-Divisions and Municipalities of Renfrew County accessed VTAC. 10,086 family physician assessments were completed, (average 64 per day). Of these, 8,535 (84.6%) assessments were to unique patient users. Thirty physicians provided care. Using digital equipment set-up in the patient’s home, 31 patients were monitored remotely. VTAC community paramedics completed 14,378 COVID-19 tests and 3,875 home visits.
Conclusions:
Renfrew County’s experience suggests that there is tremendous synergy between family physicians and community paramedics in providing access to COVID-19 assessment and COVID-19 testing. The blended model of virtual and in-person care is well suited to provide improved access to other aspects of healthcare post pandemic, particularly for patients without a family physician.
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Copyright
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