Dissemination and Implementation of a Telehealth-Enabled Program for Providing Infectious Disease Expertise in Rural Settings

Robin L P Jump; Taissa A Bej; Amanda Vivo; Brigid M Wilson; Corinne Kowal; Sunah Song; Sara Abdelrahim; Geneva Wilson; Amelia Milner; Alexandria Nguyen; Keri L Rodriguez; Nicole Beyer; Zachary Michaels; Carla Amundson; Kristina L Bajema; Abigail Beck; Jason P Burnham; Christopher J Crnich; Dimitri M Drekonja; Lauren Epstein; Tola Ewers; Daniel J Livorsi; Muthu Narayan; Federico Perez; Christopher D Pfeiffer; Rabeeya W Sabzwari; Ahmed M Salti; Danielle Tate; Tammy Walkner; Andrew S Webster; Charlesnika T Evans

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaf485

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Dissemination and Implementation of a Telehealth-Enabled Program for Providing Infectious Disease Expertise in Rural Settings

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Dissemination and Implementation of a Telehealth-Enabled Program for Providing Infectious Disease Expertise in Rural Settings

Robin L P Jump, Taissa A Bej, Amanda Vivo, Brigid M Wilson, Corinne Kowal, Sunah Song, Sara Abdelrahim, Geneva Wilson, Amelia Milner, Alexandria Nguyen, …

Open forum infectious diseases, Vol.12(8), ofaf485

07/31/2025

DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf485

PMCID: PMC12372665

PMID: 40860515

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Abstract

Background Telehealth can facilitate improving antibiotic use and related antimicrobial stewardship activities in facilities underserved by infectious diseases (ID) expertise. We describe implementation of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Videoconference Antimicrobial Stewardship Team (VAST) to connect multidisciplinary teams from rural VA medical centers (VAMCs) with geographically distant ID experts. Methods We implemented VASTs at ten rural VAMCs from September 2021-February 2024. VASTs consisted of regular meetings between rural VAMCs and an off-site ID expert who met by videoconference to discuss clinical cases, emphasizing recommendations for antibiotic prescribing. The VA Corporate Data Warehouse was used to collect information on patient medical encounter information. Interviews with healthcare professionals and surveys assessed perceptions of and experiences with VASTs. Results VASTs completed 624 clinical encounters on 531 unique patients. Half (53%) of the encounters required >20 minutes. The most frequently discussed infections were respiratory tract (35%), skin and soft tissue (19%), and genitourinary (17%). Of the 73 (53% of 138 contacted) professionals who responded to the survey, >90% perceived VASTs as improving the quality of Veteran care and agreed that recommendations were timely. All 24 interviewees identified VASTs as meeting an important need at the rural site and that the virtual system facilitated collaboration. Conclusions These findings indicate successful implementation of a telehealth program to disseminate infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship expertise to rural VAMCs. This is a strong model augmenting antimicrobial stewardship in other healthcare systems.

antimicrobial stewardship

electronic consultation

telehealth

veterans

Details

Title: Subtitle: Dissemination and Implementation of a Telehealth-Enabled Program for Providing Infectious Disease Expertise in Rural Settings
Creators: Robin L P Jump
Taissa A Bej - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Amanda Vivo - Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital
Brigid M Wilson - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Corinne Kowal - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Sunah Song - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Sara Abdelrahim - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Geneva Wilson - Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital
Amelia Milner - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Alexandria Nguyen - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Keri L Rodriguez - VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Nicole Beyer - VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Zachary Michaels - VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Carla Amundson - Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Kristina L Bajema - VA Portland Health Care System
Abigail Beck - VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Jason P Burnham - Washington University in St. Louis
Christopher J Crnich - University of Wisconsin–Madison
Dimitri M Drekonja - University of Minnesota
Lauren Epstein - Atlanta VA Medical Center
Tola Ewers - University of Wisconsin–Madison
Daniel J Livorsi - Iowa City VA Health Care System
Muthu Narayan - Minneapolis VA Health Care System
Federico Perez - VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System
Christopher D Pfeiffer - VA Portland Health Care System
Rabeeya W Sabzwari - Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital
Ahmed M Salti - VA Portland Health Care System
Danielle Tate
Tammy Walkner - Iowa City VA Health Care System
Andrew S Webster - Atlanta VA Medical Center
Charlesnika T Evans - Northwestern University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Open forum infectious diseases, Vol.12(8), ofaf485
DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf485
PMID: 40860515
PMCID: PMC12372665
NLM abbreviation: Open Forum Infect Dis
ISSN: 2328-8957
eISSN: 2328-8957
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Grant note: US Department of Veterans Affairs Health Systems Research Merit Award: I01 HX003364 Research Career Scientist: RCS 20-192 TECH-Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
This work was supported by the US Department of Veterans Affairs Health Systems Research Merit Award Number I01 HX003364 (R. L. P. J. and C. T. E) and Research Career Scientist RCS 20-192 (C. T. E). It was also supported by funds and facilities provided by the TECH-Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the and decision to submit the for
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 08/11/2025
Date published: 07/31/2025
Academic Unit: Infectious Diseases; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984946844102771

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