TytoCare Pilot
About
In this project, we examined the effects of a remote monitoring telehealth system (TytoCare, an FDA-approved device) on patient and physician experience with the aim of care optimization. TytoCare™ is a handheld technology that is intended to assist physicians in collecting vital signs and conducting more thorough exams (e.g., of the ears and throat) via telehealth visits. This device is intended to be used by adults 18 – 65 years of age, who can also utilize this device on children 0 – 17 years of age. By patients placing the device in their ear, for example, a physician can view the ear canal, which greatly expands the potential for clinical observations. However, because TytoCare (and other systems like it) is still a new technology, the effects on patients and providers (in terms of both their feelings and the quality of the visit) have been little explored. The goal of this pilot study was to examine patients’ and providers’ experiences with TytoCare in a sample of Parkview Health Plan patients.
Participants used a portal, through either MyChart or Parkview OnDemand, to request virtual healthcare visits during a 12-month period for this initiative. These virtual visits were staffed by a PPG mid-level provider. Anyone who has a virtual visit using TytoCare was sent a survey about their experiences with the TytoCare device and the visit. Additionally, at the end of the project, individuals who had used the device were interviewed so we could explore their perceptions of the device in more detail.
Our overall goal was to determine if participants are satisfied with the user experience and additional benefits afforded by use the TytoCare. Parkview Health used these results to make programmatic decisions about the use and distribution of the TytoCare device for patient care.
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