Assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington; and core investigator at the Seattle-Denver Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation,

Lucas Donovan, MD, MS

“Our main takeaway from this study is that patients who experience telehealth encounters in sleep medicine really tend to appreciate it. I think the main action item that we appreciate from this study is that we do need to pay attention to the areas where telehealth does not meet patient's needs.”

Discussing the use of telehealth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Lucas Donovan, MD, MS, commented on its integration into the field of sleep medicine in a recent conversation with 

. Donovan discussed findings from a recent study, which recruited participants with sleep disorders between June 2019 and May 2020, all of whom had 1 of 3 types of telehealth encounters—in-clinic video, home-based video, or telephone.

Donovan, who is a an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington, and a core investigator at the Seattle-Denver Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System’s Seattle Division, spoke on the positive response from patients when using telehealth, as well as the importance of acknowledging when a virtual visit may not be the best option, such as when a physical exam is necessary. Further, he said that there may be room for innovation within the field by finding a way to remotely perform tasks that are normally done in person, namely continuous positive airway pressure mask fitting. 

REFERENCE 
 
Donovan LM, Mog AC, Blanchard KN, et al. Patient experiences with telehealth in sleep medicine: a qualitative evaluation. 

. 2021;17(8):1645–1651. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9266

Videos

The assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington discussed patients’ response to the use of telehealth when treating sleep disorders. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

Takeaways From Telehealth Use in Sleep Medicine: Lucas Donovan, MD, MS

“It's clear that telehealth by itself is not a panacea. Patients in our study highlighted that they still needed tangible services that could not be delivered by telehealth—some patients or a sample noted that they had all their questions answered by the provider over telehealth, but even though their questions were answered, they still had difficulty accessing the services that were typically needed, particularly those services that were delivered in person, such as mask fittings of CPAP devices.”

Utilization of telehealth has presented both benefits and challenges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for patients with sleep disorders. Lucas Donovan, MD, MS, sat down with 

 to discuss the importance of virtual visits during the pandemic, as well as how he anticipates telehealth being integrated in the future. 

As an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington, and a core investigator at the Seattle-Denver Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, Donovan shared his opinion on telehealth, noting that its use has aided in overcoming communication, geographic, and scheduling barriers. Additionally, he spoke on large changes in his ability to provide care to his patients, and in fact, noted that he sees more patients than he would in-person, experiences fewer no-shows, and is able to start more appointments on time. While patients still require in-person visits for physical exams, Donovan commented that the proportion of these visits versus virtual appointments will need to be “fine-tuned,” depending on individual patient needs. 

Further discussed was the need to ensure that telehealth is delivered equitably, as some patients may not have the ability or resources to access technology. According to Donovan, the VA has developed initiatives to address this issue, sending veterans tablets and providing training if needed.

Following a study of patient experiences with telehealth in sleep medicine, the assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington shed light on the positive and negative aspects of its integration. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Current and Future Implications of Telehealth for Sleep Disorders: Lucas Donovan, MD, MS

“Going into these interviews, I expected the patients would discuss how telehealth encounters were either just the same or perhaps slightly worse than in-person. And while many patients did find that telehealth encounters mimicked in-person care, or had slight technical downsides, other veterans express how telehealth was actually superior in facilitating good communication with providers.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of telehealth was a key component for ensuring patients continued to receive necessary care, while adhering to stay-at-home and quarantine orders. For those with sleep disorders, this adjustment facilitated both positive and negative effects, according to findings from a recent study evaluating a spectrum of patients’ experiences.

, Lucas Donovan, MD, MS, outlined the study, which recruited participants with sleep disorders between June 2019 and May 2020, all of whom had 1 of 3 types of telehealth encounters—in-clinic video, home-based video, or telephone. Donovan, who is the corresponding author of the study; as well as an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington; and core investigator at the Seattle-Denver Health Services Research & Development Center of Innovation, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, discussed the 5 overall themes identified in the study, as well as aspects that surprised investigators. 

According to Donovan, via interviews with 35 patients, investigators concluded that patients with sleep disorders who had telehealth encounters had improved access to care, variations in interpretations of security and privacy, variations in perceived personalization of care, empowerment in the management of their care, as well as unmet needs in the form of tangible services.

The assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the University of Washington discussed key findings from a recent study on patient experience with telehealth encounters. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Lucas Donovan, MD, MS

Articles

Takeaways From Telehealth Use in Sleep Medicine: Lucas Donovan, MD, MS

Current and Future Implications of Telehealth for Sleep Disorders: Lucas Donovan, MD, MS

Findings From a Study of Telehealth in Sleep Medicine: Lucas Donovan, MD, MS