Virtual Visits for Postoperative Care Following Urogynecologic Surgery

The proposed VIDEO randomized trial will help inform clinical practice regarding the utility and perceived value of videoconferencing for postoperative care of urogynecologic patients by comparing patient satisfaction with virtual video visits and traditional in-office visits after pelvic organ prolapse and/or anti-incontinence surgery. Patient satisfaction will be measured by the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18 at the 6-week postoperative visit. The investigators hypothesize that patient satisfaction with the postoperative visit will be the same between the office and virtual groups. The study will secondarily investigate other important components of healthcare quality, including safety and clinical outcomes, by comparing postoperative healthcare resource utilization and adverse events within 12 weeks after urogynecologic surgery. Healthcare resource utilization as measured by patient-initiated phone calls, unscheduled in-person/virtual office visits, emergency room or urgent care visits, and inpatient readmissions within 6 weeks following surgery and within 12 weeks following surgery. The study also aims to evaluate patient and provider preferences/attitudes toward in-office versus virtual-video postoperative visits and to determine if patient preparedness for surgery is associated with postoperative patient satisfaction and postoperative healthcare resource utilization.

Inclusion Criteria:Age greater than 18 years oldHas technological capability to participate in videoconferencing (high-speed internet access with desktop computer or mobile device)Has decision-making capacity and able to provide informed consent for research participationAble to speak and read EnglishExclusion Criteria:Patient requested to physically come in the office or have a virtual visit for her postoperative visitPlanned concomitant surgery with another surgical teamOffice follow-up is deemed medically necessary by provider/surgeon