Trial Online
Virtual Visits
Virtual Visits is a communication module to use for Site-to-Patient communication during clinical trials.
About Virtual Visits
Using the Trial Online Virtual Visit Telehealth solution gives patients the security and convenience of participating from their home, while the investigator safely monitors symptoms and tests upon collecting data.
Virtual Visits allow the investigator to observe the participant, instruct them to complete assessments, and record their observations directly into the EDC system.
Virtual Visits is when a medical study visit takes place remotely with the investigator and patient in different geographical locations, connecting via the Trial Online system and ePRO app.
Patient Centricity
with Virtual trial Visits
Virtual Visits increase compliance as patients are more likely to attend a video call than having to travel far distances. This, in turn, reduces any reimbursement costs offered to enrolled patients as travel expenses don’t have to be settled. **If physical visits cannot be excluded, it is possible to run a hybrid trial where visits are conducted both physically and virtually online.
How to conduct
Virtual Visits
The entire visit is conducted in 5 simple steps:
Patients download the ePro application to their iOS or Android mobile device.
Trial investigators begin a scheduled Virtual Visit by starting a video or voice call to the patient's mobile device through the Trial Online ePro app.
The video call option allows clinicians from anywhere in the world to directly communicate with a trial patient, monitoring the collection of data, for example, temperature or breath examination, under direct supervision and direction of the clinician.
Enabling video ensures that data is collected correctly and the test is conducted appropriately while results can be shown through the camera in real-time.
Patients can also take images, for example, skin issues, and send them through the chat alongside the video call. All images uploaded are saved for later reference.
The doctor can evaluate the condition and advise next steps including if an in-person consultation needs to be scheduled, as well as add a note to the patient’s eCRF.
Text Messaging
Features:
- Both patients and site staff can send messages to each other.
- Study participants cannot message one another, only the site.
- The text messages can include pictures or videos taken with the camera or files stored on a computer or phone. This is specifically useful if the investigator needs to send instructions to the patient, or the patient needs to show something, like a symptom, to the investigator.
- Outside of scheduled virtual visits, site staff can send patients information regarding their medication(s) including instructions, and procedures to measure/use with medical devices.
- Patients can also conveniently and quickly message any required proof of intake for medication as well as any visible changes or symptoms to the investigator.
- The transmitted pictures and videos can be stored in other systems if required.
Benefits of Trial Online's Virtual Visits
All prior chat history with the patient is visible to site staff before and during Virtual Visits for reference.
Follow up appointments are scheduled and patients receive notifications as well as reminders of upcoming Virtual Visits in the ePro app.
To ensure no messages sent from patient to site are left unanswered it is possible for sites to configure message/information at site level for non-office hours, including replies to patients about opening hours and re-directing patients to other contact paths in emergency situations.
Virtual Visits work alongside electronic data collection as well as ePRO/eCOA clinical trials and post-market studies.
A full audit trail is accessible if necessary.
