JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

To expand Veterans’ access to healthcare, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Connected Care explored a novel software feature called “Vitals” on its VA Video Connect telehealth platform. Vitals uses contactless video-based remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) through the infrared camera on Veterans’ smartphones (and other devices) to automatically scan their faces to provide real-time vital statistics on screen to both the provider and patient.

Objective:

The purpose of this project was to assess VA clinical provider and Veteran patient attitudes regarding the usability of Vitals.

Methods:

We conducted a mixed methods evaluation of Vitals among VA providers and patients, collecting data in July and August 2023 at the VA Boston Healthcare System and VA San Diego Healthcare System. We conducted analyses in October 2023. In-person usability testing sessions consisted of a “think aloud” procedure while using the software, a semi-structured interview and a 26-item online survey.

Results:

Usability test sessions with 20 VA providers and 13 patients demonstrated that both groups found Vitals “useful” and “easy to use,” and rated its usability highly (86 and 82 points, respectively, on a 100-point scale). Regarding acceptability or willingness/intent to use, providers and patients generally expressed confidence and trust in Vitals readings, with high ratings of 90 and 85 points, respectively. Providers and patients rated Vitals highly for its feasibility and appropriateness for context (90 and 90 points, respectively on both measures. Finally, providers noted that Vitals’ flexibility makes it appropriate and advantageous for implementation in a wide range of clinical contexts, particularly in specialty care. Providers believed that most clinical teams would readily integrate Vitals into their routine workflow because it saves time; delivers accurate, consistently collected vitals; and may reduce reporting errors. Providers and Veterans suggested training and support materials that could improve Vitals adoption and implementation.

Conclusions:

While remote collection of vital readings has been described in the literature, this is one of the first accounts of testing a contactless vitals tool among providers and patients. If ongoing initiatives demonstrate accuracy in its readings, Vitals could enhance virtual care by: providing accurate, automatic reporting and recording of vitals, sending patients’ vital readings (pending provider approval) directly to their electronic medical record; saving provider and patient time; and potentially reducing necessity of some home-based biometric devices. Understanding these issues prior to FDA approval of Vitals and its implementation could contribute to a seamless introduction of Vitals to VA providers and patients.