Telemedicine appointments are more likely to be completed than in-person healthcare appointments: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Missed appointments can lead to treatment delays and adverse outcomes. Telemedicine may improve appointment completion because it addresses barriers to in-person visits, such as childcare and transportation. This study compared appointment completion for appointments using telemedicine versus in-person care in a large cohort of patients at an urban academic health sciences center. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of electronic health record data to determine whether telemedicine appointments have higher odds of completion compared to in-person care appointments, January 1, 2021, and April 30, 2023. The data were obtained from the University of South Florida (USF), a large academic health sciences center serving Tampa, FL, and surrounding communities. We implemented 1:1 propensity score matching based on age, gender, race, visit type, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results The matched cohort included 87 376 appointments, with diverse patient demographics. The percentage of completed telemedicine appointments exceeded that of completed in-person care appointments by 9.2 points (73.4% vs 64.2%, P < .001). The adjusted odds ratio for telemedicine versus in-person care in relation to appointment completion was 1.64 (95% CI, 1.59-1.69, P < .001), indicating that telemedicine appointments are associated with 64% higher odds of completion than in-person care appointments when controlling for other factors. Discussion This cohort study indicated that telemedicine appointments are more likely to be completed than in-person care appointments, regardless of demographics, comorbidity, payment type, or distance. Conclusion Telemedicine appointments are more likely to be completed than in-person healthcare appointments.