Completion rates for tests, referrals lower from telehealth visits, study finds

Healthcare DIVE November 22, 2023
Emily Olsen

Failure to get tests or complete referrals is a leading cause of diagnostic errors, and it’s particularly important in primary care, researchers said.

Dive Brief:

• Rates of completion for high-risk diagnostic tests and referrals were lower when ordered during a telehealth visit compared with an in-person appointment, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
• For telehealth orders, 43% were completed during the designated time frame compared with 58% of tests and referrals requested during in-person appointments, and 57% of those ordered without any visit at all.
• Failure to get tests or complete referrals is a leading cause of diagnostic errors, and safety risks can be a particular concern in primary care due to the large...

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