Innovative Use of a Mobile Web Application to Remotely Monitor Nonhospitalized Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction:

Most patients with COVID-19 do not require hospitalization but may need close monitoring, which can strain primary care practices. Our objective was to describe the implementation of a mobile web application to monitor COVID-19 signs and symptoms among nonhospitalized primary care patients and to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the application.

Study Design:

Retrospective analysis of (1) mobile web application data from March through December 2020 and (2) cross-sectional surveys administered in June 2020.

Materials and Methods:

We enrolled nonhospitalized patients and staff from nine New England primary care practices across 29 sites. Outcomes included feasibility and acceptability of the application as measured by the proportion of texts that resulted in a response, proportion of patients who agreed using the application was easy, and proportion of practice staff who agreed the application reduced outreach burden and that they would recommend use.

Results:

Five thousand five hundred thirty-two patients used the mobile web application, with 26,466 total responses. Overall, 78% of the daily texts resulted in a response from patients. Most patients agreed that responding to texts was easy (95%) and that they would be willing to participate in other texting programs (78%). Most staff agreed that the program reduced burden of outreach (94%) and that they would recommend use to other practices (100%).

Conclusions:

Use of a COVID-19 symptom tracking application was feasible and acceptable to patients and primary care practice staff. Outpatient practices should consider use of mobile web applications to monitor nonhospitalized patients with other acute illnesses.