Telemedicine for Urgent Care

(ITP Trial)

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Geisinger Clinic

Disqualifiers: Substance disorders, Inpatient care, Level 1, Intellectual disability, Traumatic brain injury, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

3200 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new telemedicine program to determine if it can assist individuals who frequently visit the emergency department (ED) by offering virtual, on-demand medical care. The goal is to reduce ED visits for those with both physical and mental health challenges who often use these services. Participants will either use the Integrated Telemedicine Program or continue with their regular care to compare results. Ideal candidates for this trial have visited a Geisinger ED at least four times in the past six months and are Geisinger Health Plan members with a Geisinger primary care doctor. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative care solutions that could enhance health management.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this telemedicine program is safe for high ED utilizers?

Research has shown that telemedicine programs are generally safe for patients. For example, studies have found that virtual urgent care services meet patient needs without causing harm. Both patients and healthcare providers appreciate these services.

Additionally, telemedicine improves patient satisfaction and overall health. People often feel better and more satisfied when using these services. The studies do not mention any major safety risks or harmful events.

In summary, the integrated telemedicine program appears to be a safe and effective way to provide urgent care. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the integrated telemedicine program for urgent care because it brings healthcare directly to patients through digital platforms like text, email, and phone calls. Unlike traditional urgent care, which often involves in-person visits to clinics, this program offers a more convenient and accessible way for patients to receive medical attention quickly. It's particularly promising for reducing wait times and improving access for those in remote or underserved areas. This approach aims to streamline the urgent care process, making it faster and more efficient for both patients and healthcare providers.

What evidence suggests that this telemedicine program is effective for reducing ED visits?

Research has shown that telemedicine can help reduce visits to urgent care. One study found that access to virtual urgent care at any time meets patient needs and may decrease trips to the emergency room. Telemedicine also greatly improves patient health and satisfaction, especially for ongoing conditions like diabetes. Additionally, telehealth facilitates access to specialists through remote consultations. This trial will evaluate an Integrated Telemedicine Program, which participants may receive, to determine if it can lower emergency visits for patients with complex health issues. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for high emergency department users with both physical and behavioral health issues. Participants will be randomly assigned to either get access to a new telemedicine program or just standard care. The main goal is to see if the program reduces ER visits.

Inclusion Criteria

Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) insurance member

Has a Geisinger PCP

I have visited the emergency department 4 or more times in the last 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient is diagnosed with alcohol and substance-related disorders

Patient being seen in departments determined ineligible by the study team

Patient is actively seeing a BH provider

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Randomization

Participants are randomized to either the integrated telemedicine program or standard care

Immediate

Intervention

Participants in the treatment group receive access to the integrated telemedicine program

120 days

Virtual visits as needed

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for emergency department visits and health-related quality of life

120 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Integrated Telemedicine Program

Trial Overview Researchers are testing an integrated telemedicine program designed for patients who frequently use emergency services, comparing its effectiveness against standard care in reducing ED visits within 120 days after alert initiation.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Integrated Telemedicine Program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients will be invited to participate in the integrated telemedicine program through text, email, and/or phone calls.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Patients will receive only standard care and will receive no invitation to participate in the integrated telemedicine program.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Geisinger Clinic

Lead Sponsor

Trials

159

Recruited

1,976,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11298029/

How Telemedicine Is Improving Patient Outcomes ... Telemedicine significantly improves patient outcomes, access, and satisfaction in chronic disease management, especially diabetes care.

2. jmir.org jmir.org/2025/1/e69095/PDF

Applications and Outcomes of Telehealth and Integrated ... Telehealth expands access to specialized urological care by overcoming geographical barriers and offering virtual consultations, at-home ...

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41746-024-01152-2

Effectiveness of telehealth versus in-person care during the ... In this systematic review, we compared the effectiveness of telehealth with in-person care during the pandemic using PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane ...

4. bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com bmcemergmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12873-024-01074-y

Place of telemedicine in the organization of emergency care The primary outcome measures were the re-consultation rate and treatment adherence. The secondary outcome measure was patient satisfaction.SPSS ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11997113/

Virtual urgent care in an integrated value based healthcare ... Findings demonstrate that 24/7 VUC sustainably supports meeting patient demand for urgent care services in an integrated value-based system.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7566682/

Virtual Urgent Care Quality and Safety in the Time of ... These data are critical to appraise telehealth quality and safety issues in a disaster, and to design patient care processes for potential subsequent COVID-19 ...

7. medinform.jmir.org medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e75486

Validation of Telehealth Outcome Categories for Patient Safety Although patient safety remains a critical focal point, other outcomes such as clinical efficacy, patient and provider satisfaction, and cost- ...

8. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41746-025-01590-6

Virtual urgent care in an integrated value based healthcare ... Findings demonstrate that 24/7 VUC sustainably supports meeting patient demand for urgent care services in an integrated value-based system.