Utilization-Focused Evaluation of Virtual Physician Care Use in Long-Term Care Homes Across a Regional BC Health Authority (ViP LTC Study)

Many doctors started to routinely care for residents in long-term care homes virtually by video, phone, e-mail, or text during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was done to stop the spread of COVID-19. Concerns have been made by doctors and staff in long-term care homes about how this affects the quality of residents' care and the well-being of residents, their family caregivers, doctors and health care staff. We will evaluate the use of virtual doctor care in long-term care during the pandemic in Fraser Health region in British Columbia. This will be done through capturing the views of both care providers and care recipients. We will interview residents living in long-term care home and their family caregivers to capture views on virtual doctor care and preferences compared to in-person doctor care. Also, we will run focus groups with doctors and health care staff involved in virtual care in long-term care homes to assess their views and preferences for caring for residents virtually. Overall, we want to assess what barriers and enablers exist for virtual doctor care that is fair and yields good results and value for residents and staff in long-term care. Our approach will involve ongoing team work between researchers and end users. End users will include: key decision makers, residents, family caregivers, doctors and health care staff in long-term care and virtual health at Fraser Health. The results of this study will inform decision makers and front-line end users about best practices for virtual doctor care now and after the pandemic. They will also be used to develop practical tools for end user. For example, a note for decision makers, a picture plan for doctors and staff and a picture plan or short video for residents and family caregivers in long-term care homes are planned guide best practice in virtual doctor care.