A telehealth navigator program is associated with significant improvement in video visit adherence, as well as a positive return on investment, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Oren J. Mechanic, MD, and colleagues evaluated the program in assisting patients in overcoming barriers to video visit access. The analysis included 4,066 adults with a scheduled video visit without a previous telehealth visit at two US academic primary care clinics during a 12-week study from April to July 2021. Patients who received the navigator intervention had significantly increased odds of attending their appointments (OR, 2.0) versus the comparator group. There was an absolute increase of 9% in appointment attendance for the navigator group (91.6% vs 82.8%). During the study period, the program’s return on investment was $11,387. “Our findings have relevance for efforts to reduce barriers to telehealth-based healthcare and increase equity,” the study authors wrote.
