Project Summary

This implementation project is complete.

PCORI implementation projects promote the use of findings from PCORI-funded studies in real-world healthcare and other settings. These projects build toward broad use of evidence to inform healthcare decisions.

This PCORI-funded implementation project adapted a tested virtual care model for Parkinson’ disease and made it part of a statewide program that provides free specialist care to patients with Parkinson’s disease in New York.

Patients with Parkinson’s disease who receive care from a neurologist within four years of diagnosis have better outcomes. For example, they have a lower risk for worsening health, loss of independence, and early death than those who aren’t able to receive care from a specialist. Virtual visits could improve access to specialty care for people with Parkinson’s disease. For example, these visits may benefit those who don’t live near a Parkinson’s specialist, have trouble leaving their homes, or can’t get to the doctor’s office for other reasons.

What was the goal of this implementation project?

Virtual visits could help people with Parkinson’s disease get specialist care if they can’t easily get to the doctor’s office. A PCORI-funded research study showed that virtual visits worked well as a way for patients to receive care for Parkinson’s disease.

This project adapted the virtual visits and made them part of a statewide program called Parkinson Disease Care New York (PDCNY). The adapted program gave free virtual care to patients with Parkinson’s disease across New York.

What did this project do?

The project team expanded the virtual home visits to include visits with clinicians, such as doctors and nurses, who specialize in treating health problems that patients with Parkinson’s disease often have. These problems include dementia and depression. PDCNY then delivered virtual visits to patients across New York. Patients lacked access to nearby specialty care, were ages 80 and older, lived in a nursing home, or were homebound. The team also worked with libraries and other community spaces. They set up locations where patients without home internet access could receive virtual Parkinson’s care.

The project team created free education and training to help patients and clinicians use the virtual visit approach. The team also trained health professionals from physical, speech, and occupational therapy in comprehensive care for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Through this training, the team enhanced community resources for Parkinson’s disease care.

More about this implementation project:

Publicly Accessible Project Materials

  • For patients: an online educational series, called ParkinsonTV:
    • Season 1 focuses on the basics of daily living with Parkinson’s disease.
    • Season 2 focuses on key mental health conditions related to Parkinson’s disease.
  • For clinicians: Telemedicine for Parkinson’s: A Clinician’s Guide is a resource for neurologists on how to deliver Parkinson’s care remotely.

For more information about these materials, please contact the project team at [email protected].

The above materials were developed and provided by the awardee and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI. Accordingly, PCORI cannot make any guarantees with respect to their accuracy or reliability. Please also note that these materials may either be freely available or require a fee to view (or access).

Project Achievements

  • Confirmed feasibility of the virtual care program in real-world settings.
  • Delivered free, virtual care to 400 people with Parkinson’s disease across New York, including patients who were homebound (21%), had not seen a Parkinson’s specialist in over a year (46%), and who lived in federally designated health professional shortage areas (50%).
  • Established satellite locations where patients could receive virtual care for Parkinson’s disease, including libraries, community centers, and outpatient clinics.
  • Developed a series of online patient education videos addressing topics of interest to people with Parkinson’s, including exercise, medication, nutrition, speech and occupational therapy, as well as mental health conditions related to Parkinson’s.
  • Trained 45 allied healthcare professionals (physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists) on Parkinson’s disease care though a hands-on workshop. Also trained 50 neurologists on how to deliver Parkinson’s care remotely.

Project Information

E. Ray Dorsey, MD, MBA
University of Rochester
$373,468
Dissemination and Implementation of a Virtual Care Model for Parkinson's Disease and Other Chronic Conditions

Key Dates

April 2019
2017
2019

Study Registration Information

Initial PCORI-Funded Research Study

This implementation project focuses on putting findings into practice from this completed PCORI-funded research study: Do Video House Calls with a Specialist Help Get Care to People with Parkinson's Disease?

Tags

Project Status
Health Conditions Health Conditions These are the broad terms we use to categorize our funded research studies; specific diseases or conditions are included within the appropriate larger category. Note: not all of our funded projects focus on a single disease or condition; some touch on multiple diseases or conditions, research methods, or broader health system interventions. Such projects won’t be listed by a primary disease/condition and so won’t appear if you use this filter tool to find them. View Glossary
State State The state where the project originates, or where the primary institution or organization is located. View Glossary
Project Details Type
Last updated: April 24, 2023