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OBJECTIVES: To compare acute care virtual visits with in-person visits with respect to equity of access, markers of quality and safety, and parent and provider experience, before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: We compared patient demographics, antimicrobial prescribing rates, emergency department (ED) use, and patient-experience scores for virtual visits and in-person care at 2 academic pediatric primary care practices using χ2 testing and interrupted time series analyses. Parent and provider focus groups explored themes related to virtual visit experience and acceptability. RESULTS: We compared virtual acute care visits conducted in March 2020-February 2021 (n = 8868) with in-person acute care visits conducted in February 2019-March 2020 (n = 24 120) and March 2020-February 2021 (n = 6054). There were small differences in patient race/ethnicity across the different cohorts (P < .01). Virtual visits were associated with a 9.6% (-11.5%, -7.8%, P < .001) decrease in all antibiotic prescribing and a 13.2% (-22.1%, -4.4%, P < .01) decrease in antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections. Unanticipated visits to the ED did not significantly differ among visit types. Patient experience scores were significantly greater (P < .05) for virtual acute care in overall rating of care and likelihood to recommend. Focus group themes included safety, distractibility, convenience, treatment, and technology. Providers were broadly accepting of virtual care while parental views were more mixed. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth acute care visits may not have negative effects on quality and safety, as measured by antimicrobial prescribing and unanticipated ED visit rates. Efforts to increase parental acceptance and avoid creating disparities in access to virtual care will be essential to continued success of telehealth acute care visits.

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OBJECTIVE: Compare pediatrician burnout when measured and categorized in different ways to better understand burnout and the association with satisfaction. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed national survey data from a cohort study of early to midcareer pediatricians. In 2017, participants randomly received 1 of 3 question sets measuring burnout components (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment): group A received the Maslach Burnout Inventory, group B received a previously used measure, and group C received a new severe measure. Repeated measures ANOVA tested differences across burnout categorizations: high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization and low personal accomplishment; high emotional exhaustion and high depersonalization; and high emotional exhaustion or high depersonalization. Logistic regression tested relationships between burnout profiles (engaged, intermediate, and burnout) and satisfaction. Seventy-one percent of participants completed the survey (1279/1800). RESULTS: Burnout varied depending on measurement (groups A, B, and C) and categorization. For example, for group A, when categorized as high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment, burnout was lower (4.8%) than categorized as high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (15.2%) (P < .001) or categorized as high emotional exhaustion or depersonalization (44.6%) (P < .001). Most participants were satisfied with their career (83.6%). Using burnout profiles, 38.4%-85.1% fell in the engaged profile. For each group, burnout profiles were associated with satisfaction. For example, group A participants in the burnout or intermediate profile were less likely than those engaged to be satisfied with their careers (aOR, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.03-0.24]; and aOR, 0.23 [95% CI, 0.10-0.56], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The way burnout is measured and categorized affects burnout prevalence and its association with satisfaction. Transparency in methodology used is critical to interpreting results.

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