What question did this study set out to answer?

To compare the ordering and completion rates of high- and low-value tests during virtual and in-person annual visits.

February 27, 2026Open Access

Test Ordering and Completion During Virtual vs In-Person Annual Visits

Key Points

To compare the ordering and completion rates of high- and low-value tests during virtual and in-person annual visits.
Cohort study design
Comparison of test ordering during virtual and in-person visits
Focus on high-value and low-value tests
Lower rates of both high- and low-value tests ordered and completed during virtual visits
Significant reduction noted for low-value tests and laboratory tests
Health systems could improve rates by using gap closure alerts

Abstract

In this cohort study, high- and low-value tests were less likely to be both ordered and completed at virtual annual visits compared with in-person annual visits, particularly low-value tests and laboratory tests. Telemedicine may introduce frictions for clinicians and patients that differentially reduce low-value testing, although high-value tests were also affected; health systems could consider tools, such as gap closure alerts, to selectively promote high-value care.

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Discussion

Authors

Ishani Ganguli

Nicholas E. Daley

Ateev Mehrotra

Providence College

Journals

JAMA Network Open

Actions

Institutions

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Harvard University Press

Brown University

References and Citations

Connected Papers

Building similarity graph...

Analyzing shared references across papers

Test Ordering and Completion During Virtual vs In-Person Annual Visits

Key Points

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Authors

Journals

Actions

Institutions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

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