TY - JOUR AU - Font, Marta AU - Davoody, Nadia PY - 2025/4/15 TI - Optimizing an Electronic Health Record System Used to Help Health Care Professionals Comply With a Standardized Care Pathway for Heart Failure During the Transition From Hospital To Chronic Care: Qualitative Semistructured Interview Study JO - JMIR Med Inform SP - e63665 VL - 13 KW - care pathway KW - heart failure KW - electronic health record KW - sociotechnical system KW - health care professional N2 - Background: In Spain, the prevalence of heart failure is twice the European average, partly due to inadequate patient management. To address this issue, a standardized care model, the Care Model for Patients with Heart Failure (Modelos Asistenciales de Atención al Paciente con Insuficiencia Cardíaca), was developed. This model emphasizes the importance of sequential visits from hospital discharge until the patient transitions to chronic care to prevent rehospitalization. The standardized care pathway has been implemented in certain areas of the Andalusia Health Service. However, there is uncertainty about whether the region?s electronic health record system, Diraya, can effectively support this model. If not properly integrated, it could lead to data inaccuracies and noncompliance with the standardized care pathway. Objective: This study aimed to explore how to improve Diraya to better support health care professionals in adhering to the transition standardized care model for patients with heart failure as they move from hospital care to chronic care. Methods: In total, 16 semistructured interviews were conducted with nurses and physicians from both hospital and primary care settings. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data and recommendations for improvements that were developed based on the findings. These recommendations were further supported by existing literature and validated through additional interviews. Results: In total, 65 codes, 23 subthemes, and 8 themes were identified. The main themes included optimizing medical data management for enhanced clinical workflow, agreement on standardization and enhancement of the discharge report, enhancing clinical decision support through updated guidelines and automated tools, optimizing interoperability as a solution for better management of patients with heart failure, and encouraging communication based on digital tools and personal connection. In total, 15 improvements were proposed, such as standardizing technology across Andalusia Health Service facilities and offering targeted training programs. These measures aim to enhance interoperability, streamline communication between different health care settings, and reduce the administrative burden for health care professionals. Conclusions: Diraya currently does not adequately support the transition standardized care model, placing a significant administrative burden on health care professionals, often with ethically concerning implications. To ensure effective implementation of the standardized care model, major updates are necessary for Diraya?s clinical information management, system functionality, and organizational structure within the Andalusia Health Service. UR - https://medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e63665 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/63665 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ ID - info:doi/10.2196/63665 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Trivedi, Ritu AU - Shaw, Tim AU - Sheahen, Brodie AU - Chow, K. Clara AU - Laranjo, Liliana PY - 2025/3/12 TI - Patient Perspectives on Conversational Artificial Intelligence for Atrial Fibrillation Self-Management: Qualitative Analysis JO - J Med Internet Res SP - e64325 VL - 27 KW - atrial fibrillation KW - conversational agents KW - qualitative research KW - self-management KW - digital health KW - patient perspective KW - conversational artificial intelligence KW - speech recognition N2 - Background: Conversational artificial intelligence (AI) allows for engaging interactions, however, its acceptability, barriers, and enablers to support patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are unknown. Objective: This work stems from the Coordinating Health care with AI?supported Technology for patients with AF (CHAT-AF) trial and aims to explore patient perspectives on receiving support from a conversational AI support program. Methods: Patients with AF recruited for a randomized controlled trial who received the intervention were approached for semistructured interviews using purposive sampling. The 6-month intervention consisted of fully automated conversational AI phone calls (with speech recognition and natural language processing) that assessed patient health and provided self-management support and education. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: We conducted 30 interviews (mean age 65.4, SD 11.9 years; 21/30, 70% male). Four themes were identified: (1) interaction with a voice-based conversational AI program (human-like interactions, restriction to prespecified responses, trustworthiness of hospital-delivered conversational AI); (2) engagement is influenced by the personalization of content, delivery mode, and frequency (tailoring to own health context, interest in novel information regarding health, overwhelmed with large volumes of information, flexibility provided by multichannel delivery); (3) improving access to AF care and information (continuity in support, enhancing access to health-related information); (4) empowering patients to better self-manage their AF (encouraging healthy habits through frequent reminders, reassurance from rhythm-monitoring devices). Conclusions: Although conversational AI was described as an engaging way to receive education and self-management support, improvements such as enhanced dialogue flexibility to allow for more naturally flowing conversations and tailoring to patient health context were also mentioned. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000174886; https://tinyurl.com/3nn7tk72 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/34470 UR - https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e64325 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/64325 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ ID - info:doi/10.2196/64325 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Lv, Chen AU - Gong, Yi-Hong AU - Wang, Xiu-Hua AU - An, Jun AU - Wang, Qian AU - Han, Jing AU - Chen, Xiao-Feng PY - 2025/3/4 TI - Correlation Between Diagnosis-Related Group Weights and Nursing Time in the Cardiology Department: Cross-Sectional Study JO - JMIR Med Inform SP - e65549 VL - 13 KW - diagnosis-related groups KW - nursing time KW - workload KW - human resources KW - nursing N2 - Background: Diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment has become the main form of medical expense settlements, and its application is becoming increasingly extensive. Objective: This study aimed to explore the correlation between DRG weights and nursing time and to develop a predictive model for nursing time in the cardiology department based on DRG weights and other factors. Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to select patients who were hospitalized in the cardiology ward of Beijing Chest Hospital between April 2023 and April 2024. Nursing time was measured by direct and indirect nursing time. To determine the distributions of nursing time based on different demographics, a Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between DRG weight and nursing time, and a multiple linear regression was used to determine the influencing factors of total nursing time. Results: A total of 103 subjects were included in this study. The DRG weights were positively correlated with direct nursing time (r=0.480; P<.001), indirect nursing time (r=0.394; P<.001), and total nursing time (r=0.448; P<.001). Moreover, age was positively correlated with the 3 nursing times (direct: r=0.235; indirect: r=0.192; total: r=0.235; all P<.001). The activities of daily living (ADL) score on admission was negatively correlated with the 3 nursing times (direct: r=?0.316; indirect: r=?0.252; total: r=?0.301; all P<.001). In addition, the nursing level on the first day of admission was positively correlated with the 3 nursing times (direct: r=0.333; indirect: r=0.332; total: r=0.352; all P<.001). Furthermore, the multivariate analysis found that the nursing level on the first day of admission, complications or comorbidities, DRG weight, and ADL score on admission were the influencing factors of nursing time (R2=0.328; F5,97=69.58; P<.001). Conclusions: DRG weight showed a strong correlation with nursing time and could be used to predict nursing time, which may assist in nursing resource allocation in cardiology departments. UR - https://medinform.jmir.org/2025/1/e65549 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/65549 ID - info:doi/10.2196/65549 ER - TY - JOUR AU - McCullough, May Julie Elizabeth AU - Sinclair, Marlene AU - Gillender, Jonathan AU - McCrossan, Brian AU - Slater, F. Paul AU - Browne, Rosie AU - Casey, Frank PY - 2024/10/22 TI - Touching Technology?Parents? Experiences of Remote Consultations for Children With Severe Congenital Cardiac Conditions: Quasi-Experimental Cohort Study JO - JMIR Pediatr Parent SP - e54598 VL - 7 KW - congenital heart disease KW - pediatric cardiology KW - pediatric cardiologist KW - pediatric KW - parent KW - digital health KW - digital technology KW - digital intervention KW - telemedicine KW - telehealth KW - virtual care KW - virtual health KW - virtual medicine KW - remote consultation KW - telephone consultation KW - video consultation KW - remote patient monitoring KW - technology acceptance KW - videoconferencing consultations N2 - Background: Remote consultations (RCs) using videoconferencing was recommended by the General Medical Council as the method for clinicians to provide patient consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilitating this while providing high-quality care depends on the usability and acceptability of the technology. Objective: This project aimed to investigate parents? experiences of using videoconferencing technology for real-time RCs with children who had congenital heart defects during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods: This study?s design was quasi-experimental and was underpinned by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model that seeks to explain and predict an individual?s intention to use a technology. Parents were informed of this study by the medical team, posters were made available in the wards and clinics, and leaflets were left for browsing. Clinician screening of potential participants led to the identification of 33 children and parents who were enrolled on this study. The intervention was a web-based RC by medical staff using a secure, interactive videoconferencing platform (Pexip). Each child and their mother or father received 8 RCs with the same specialist doctor or nurse. Measurements were taken using web-based questionnaires pre and post consultation at the first, middle, and last events; questions were focused on the acceptability, usability, and clinical applicability of RCs. Parents? experiences were explored using recorded interviews and analyzed thematically. Results: In total, 29 children aged 4?1052 (mean 95, SD 191.14) days completed the project, receiving a total of 189 RCs as part of their routine care. Parents? prior experience of consultation via videoconference was low; however, as time progressed, their use and acceptance of the technology increased. The intervention was warmly received by all parents who found the face-to-face component particularly useful for discussion with their child?s medical team. Furthermore, parents noted the savings on time, money, and childcare. Conclusions: While in-person consultations are considered the gold standard of patient care, increasing pressures on health services and staff reduce availability. Given the ease of access and additional benefits experienced by parents and their children, it is proposed that hybrid models of consultation and care provision are equal, if not superior, to in-person consultations in the management of children with severe congenital heart defects while reducing costs and pressure on the health service and parents. UR - https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e54598 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/54598 ID - info:doi/10.2196/54598 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Meng, Guangxia AU - McAiney, Carrie AU - McKillop, Ian AU - Perlman, M. Christopher AU - Tsao, Shu-Feng AU - Chen, Helen PY - 2024/2/16 TI - Factors That Influence Patient Satisfaction With the Service Quality of Home-Based Teleconsultation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Survey Study JO - JMIR Cardio SP - e51439 VL - 8 KW - teleconsultation KW - secondary stroke prevention KW - telemedicine KW - service quality KW - patient satisfaction N2 - Background: Ontario stroke prevention clinics primarily held in-person visits before the COVID-19 pandemic and then had to shift to a home-based teleconsultation delivery model using telephone or video to provide services during the pandemic. This change may have affected service quality and patient experiences. Objective: This study seeks to understand patient satisfaction with Ontario stroke prevention clinics? rapid shift to a home-based teleconsultation delivery model used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research question explores explanatory factors affecting patient satisfaction. Methods: Using a cross-sectional service performance model, we surveyed patients who received telephone or video consultations at 2 Ontario stroke prevention clinics in 2021. This survey included closed- and open-ended questions. We used logistic regression and qualitative content analysis to understand factors affecting patient satisfaction with the quality of home-based teleconsultation services. Results: The overall response rate to the web survey was 37.2% (128/344). The quantitative analysis was based on 110 responses, whereas the qualitative analysis included 97 responses. Logistic regression results revealed that responsiveness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.034, 95% CI 0.006-0.188; P<.001) and empathy (AOR 0.116, 95% CI 0.017-0.800; P=.03) were significant factors negatively associated with low satisfaction (scores of 1, 2, or 3 out of 5). The only characteristic positively associated with low satisfaction was when survey consent was provided by the substitute decision maker (AOR 6.592, 95% CI 1.452-29.927; P=.02). In the qualitative content analysis, patients with both low and high global satisfaction scores shared the same factors of service dissatisfaction (assurance, reliability, and empathy). The main subcategories associated with dissatisfaction were missing clinical activities, inadequate communication, administrative process issues, and absence of personal connection. Conversely, the high-satisfaction group offered more positive feedback on assurance, reliability, and empathy, as well as on having a competent clinician, appropriate patient selection, and excellent communication and empathy skills. Conclusions: The insights gained from this study can be considered when designing home-based teleconsultation services to enhance patient experiences in stroke prevention care. UR - https://cardio.jmir.org/2024/1/e51439 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/51439 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38363590 ID - info:doi/10.2196/51439 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Rush, L. Kathy AU - Burton, Lindsay AU - Seaton, L. Cherisse AU - Loewen, Peter AU - O'Connor, P. Brian AU - Moroz, Lana AU - Corman, Kendra AU - Smith, A. Mindy AU - Andrade, G. Jason PY - 2023/9/14 TI - Telehealth Satisfaction in Patients Receiving Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Care: Quantitative Exploratory Study JO - JMIR Hum Factors SP - e50232 VL - 10 KW - atrial fibrillation KW - telehealth KW - telehealth satisfaction KW - self-efficacy KW - attitudes toward technology KW - attitude KW - attitudes KW - satisfaction KW - telemedicine KW - cardiology KW - heart KW - adoption KW - eHealth KW - perception KW - perceptions N2 - Background: Telehealth can optimize access to specialty care for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Virtual AF care, however, may not fit with the complex needs of patients with AF. Objective: This study aims to explore the correlation among attitudes toward health care technologies, self-efficacy, and telehealth satisfaction as part of the future planning of virtual AF clinic care. Methods: Patients with AF older than 18 years from an urban-based, highly specialized AF clinic who had an upcoming telehealth visit were invited to participate in a web-based survey. The survey asked about demographic characteristics; use of technology; general, computer, and health care technology self-efficacy (HTSE) and health care technology attitudes, using a validated 30-item tool; and telehealth satisfaction questionnaire using a validated 14-item questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and linear regression modeling. Results: Participants (n=195 of 579 invited, for a 34% response rate) were primarily older, male, and White, had postsecondary schooling or more, and had high self-reported overall and mental health ratings. A variety of technologies were used in their daily lives and for health care, with the majority of technologies comprising desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, and tablets. Self-efficacy and telehealth satisfaction questionnaire scores were high overall, with male participants having higher general self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy, HTSE, and technology attitude scores. After controlling for age and sex, only HTSE was significantly related to individuals? attitudes toward health care technology. Both general self-efficacy and attitude toward health care technology were positively related to telehealth satisfaction. Conclusions: Consistent with a previous study, only HTSE significantly influenced attitudes toward health care technology. This finding confirms that, in this regard, self-efficacy is not a general perception but is domain specific. Considering participants? predominant use of the telephone for virtual care, it follows that general self-efficacy and attitude toward health care technology were significant contributors to telehealth satisfaction. Given our patients? frequent use of technology and high computer self-efficacy and HTSE scores, the use of video for telehealth appointments could be supported. UR - https://humanfactors.jmir.org/2023/1/e50232 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/50232 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37707881 ID - info:doi/10.2196/50232 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Rush, L. Kathy AU - Burton, Lindsay AU - Loewen, Peter AU - Wilson, Ryan AU - Singh, Sarah AU - Moroz, Lana AU - Andrade, G. Jason PY - 2023/1/30 TI - Patients? Experiences With the Fit of Virtual Atrial Fibrillation Care During the Pandemic: Qualitative Descriptive Study JO - JMIR Cardio SP - e41548 VL - 7 KW - atrial fibrillation KW - virtual care KW - patient experience KW - qualitative KW - communication KW - quality of care N2 - Background: In-person health care has been the standard model of care delivery for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite the growing use of remote technology, virtual health care has received limited formal study in populations with AF. Understanding the virtual care experiences of patients in specialized AF clinics is essential to inform future planning of AF clinic care. Objective: This qualitative descriptive study aimed to understand patients? virtual AF clinic care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants were recruited from a pool of patients who were receiving care from an AF clinic and who were enrolled in a larger survey study. A total of 8 virtual focus groups (n=30) were conducted in 2 waves between March 2021 and May 2021. Facilitators used a semistructured discussion guide to ask participants questions about their experiences of virtual care and the perceived quality of virtual care and technology support. Three team members initially open coded group data to create a preliminary coding framework. As the analysis progressed, with subsequent focus groups, the code clusters were refined. Results: The participants were primarily male (21/30, 70%), aged ?65 years (20/30, 67%), and college graduates (22/30, 73%). Patients found virtual care to be highly beneficial. Central to their experiences of virtual care was its fit or lack of fit with their health needs, which was integrally connected to communication effectiveness and their preferred virtual care future. Practical benefits included flexibility, convenience, and time and cost savings of virtual care. Virtual care fit occurred for small, quick, and mundane issues (eg, medication refills) but was suboptimal for new and more complex issues that patients thought warranted an in-person visit. Fit often reflected the effectiveness of communication between patient and provider and that of in-clinic follow-up. There was near-complete agreement among participants on the acceptability of virtual communication with their providers in addressing their needs, but this depended on adequate reciprocal communication. Without the benefit of in-person physical assessments, patients were uncertain and lacked confidence in communicating the needed, correct, and comprehensive information. Finally, participants described concerns related to ongoing virtual care with recommendations for their preferred future using a hybrid model of care and integrating patient-reported data (ie, blood pressure measurements) in virtual care delivery. Conclusions: Virtual care from a specialty AF clinic provides practical benefits for patients, but they must be weighed against the need for virtual care?s fit with patients? needs and problems. The stability and complexity of patients? health needs, their management, and their perceptions of communication effectiveness with providers and clinics must be considered in decisions about appointment modality. Patients? recommendations for future virtual care through use of hybrid models together with systems for data sharing have the potential to optimize fit. UR - https://cardio.jmir.org/2023/1/e41548 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/41548 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36716096 ID - info:doi/10.2196/41548 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Biersteker, Tom AU - Hilt, Alexander AU - van der Velde, Enno AU - Schalij, Jan Martin AU - Treskes, Willem Roderick PY - 2021/12/16 TI - Real-World Experience of mHealth Implementation in Clinical Practice (the Box): Design and Usability Study JO - JMIR Cardio SP - e26072 VL - 5 IS - 2 KW - eHealth KW - mHealth KW - remote patient monitoring KW - cardiology KW - patient satisfaction KW - patient empowerment KW - mobile phone N2 - Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is an emerging field of scientific interest worldwide. Potential benefits include increased patient engagement, improved clinical outcomes, and reduced health care costs. However, mHealth is often studied in projects or trials, and structural implantation in clinical practice is less common. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to outline the design of the Box and its implementation and use in an outpatient clinic setting. The impact on logistical outcomes and patient and provider satisfaction is discussed. Methods: In 2016, an mHealth care track including smartphone-compatible devices, named the Box, was implemented in the cardiology department of a tertiary medical center in the Netherlands. Patients with myocardial infarction, rhythm disorders, cardiac surgery, heart failure, and congenital heart disease received devices to measure daily weight, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation. In addition, professional and patient user comments on the experience with the care track were obtained via structured interviews. Results: From 2016 to April 2020, a total of 1140 patients were connected to the mHealth care track. On average, a Box cost ?350 (US $375), not including extra staff costs. The median patient age was 60.8 (IQR 52.9-69.3) years, and 73.59% (839/1140) were male. A median of 260 (IQR 105-641) measurements was taken on a median of 189 (IQR 98-372) days. Patients praised the ease of use of the devices and felt more involved with their illness and care. Professionals reported more productive outpatient consultations as well as improved insight into health parameters such as blood pressure and weight. A feedback loop from the hospital to patient to focus on measurements was commented as an important improvement by both patients and professionals. Conclusions: In this study, the design and implementation of an mHealth care track for outpatient follow-up of patients with various cardiovascular diseases is described. Data from these 4 years indicate that mHealth is feasible to incorporate in outpatient management and is generally well-accepted by patients and providers. Limitations include the need for manual measurement data checks and the risk of data overload. Moreover, the tertiary care setting in which the Box was introduced may limit the external validity of logistical and financial end points to other medical centers. More evidence is needed to show the effects of mHealth on clinical outcomes and on cost-effectiveness. UR - https://cardio.jmir.org/2021/2/e26072 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/26072 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34642159 ID - info:doi/10.2196/26072 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Li, Xuan AU - Chou, Shin-Yi AU - Deily, E. Mary AU - Qian, Mengcen PY - 2021/10/28 TI - Comparing the Impact of Online Ratings and Report Cards on Patient Choice of Cardiac Surgeon: Large Observational Study JO - J Med Internet Res SP - e28098 VL - 23 IS - 10 KW - online physician reviews KW - report cards KW - cardiac surgeons KW - patient choice N2 - Background: Patients may use two information sources about a health care provider?s quality: online physician reviews, which are written by patients to reflect their subjective experience, and report cards, which are based on objective health outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of online ratings on patient choice of cardiac surgeon compared to that of report cards. Methods: We obtained ratings from a leading physician review platform, Vitals; report card scores from Pennsylvania Cardiac Surgery Reports; and information about patients? choices of surgeons from inpatient records on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries done in Pennsylvania from 2008 to 2017. We scraped all reviews posted on Vitals for surgeons who performed CABG surgeries in Pennsylvania during our study period. We linked the average overall rating and the most recent report card score at the time of a patient?s surgery to the patient?s record based on the surgeon?s name, focusing on fee-for-service patients to avoid impacts of insurance networks on patient choices. We used random coefficient logit models with surgeon fixed effects to examine the impact of receiving a high online rating and a high report card score on patient choice of surgeon for CABG surgeries. Results: We found that a high online rating had positive and significant effects on patient utility, with limited variation in preferences across individuals, while the impact of a high report card score on patient choice was trivial and insignificant. About 70.13% of patients considered no information on Vitals better than a low rating; the corresponding figure was 26.66% for report card scores. The findings were robust to alternative choice set definitions and were not explained by surgeon attrition, referral effect, or admission status. Our results also show that the interaction effect of rating information and a time trend was positive and significant for online ratings, but small and insignificant for report cards. Conclusions: A patient?s choice of surgeon is affected by both types of rating information; however, over the past decade, online ratings have become more influential, while the effect of report cards has remained trivial. Our findings call for information provision strategies that incorporate the advantages of both online ratings and report cards. UR - https://www.jmir.org/2021/10/e28098 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/28098 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34709192 ID - info:doi/10.2196/28098 ER - TY - JOUR AU - Yan, Qi AU - Jensen, J. Katherine AU - Thomas, Rose AU - Field, R. Alyssa AU - Jiang, Zheng AU - Goei, Christian AU - Davies, G. Mark PY - 2021/2/24 TI - Digital Footprint of Academic Vascular Surgeons in the Southern United States on Physician Rating Websites: Cross-sectional Evaluation Study JO - JMIR Cardio SP - e22975 VL - 5 IS - 1 KW - internet KW - patient satisfaction KW - quality of care KW - physician rating sites KW - patient experience KW - professional reviews KW - social media N2 - Background: The internet has become a popular platform for patients to obtain information and to review the health care providers they interact with. However, little is known about the digital footprint of vascular surgeons and their interactions with patients on social media. Objective: This study aims to understand the activity of academic vascular surgeons on physician rating websites. Methods: Information on attending vascular surgeons affiliated with vascular residency or with fellowships in the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery (SAVS) was collected from public sources. A listing of websites containing physician ratings was obtained via literature reviews and Google search. Open access websites with either qualitative or quantitative evaluations of vascular surgeons were included. Closed access websites were excluded. Ranking scores from each website were converted to a standard 5-point scale for comparison. Results: A total of 6238 quantitative and 967 qualitative reviews were written for 287 physicians (236 males, 82.2%) across 16 websites that met the inclusion criteria out of the 62 websites screened. The surgeons affiliated with the integrated vascular residency and vascular fellowship programs in SAVS had a median of 8 (IQR 7-10) profiles across 16 websites, with only 1 surgeon having no web presence in any of the websites. The median number of quantitative ratings for each physician was 17 (IQR 6-34, range 1-137) and the median number of narrative reviews was 3 (IQR 2-6, range 1-28). Vitals, WebMD, and Healthgrades were the only 3 websites where over a quarter of the physicians were rated, and those rated had more than 5 ratings on average. The median score for the quantitative reviews was 4.4 (IQR 4.0-4.9). Most narrative reviews (758/967, 78.4%) were positive, but 20.2% (195/967) were considered negative; only 1.4% (14/967) were considered equivocal. No statistical difference was found in the number of quantitative reviews or in the overall average score in the physician ratings between physicians with social media profiles and those without social media profiles (departmental social media profile: median 23 vs 15, respectively, P=.22; personal social media profile: median 19 vs 14, respectively, P=.08). Conclusions: The representation of vascular surgeons on physician rating websites is varied, with the majority of the vascular surgeons represented only in half of the physician rating websites The number of quantitative and qualitative reviews for academic vascular surgeons is low. No vascular surgeon responded to any of the reviews. The activity of vascular surgeons in this area of social media is low and reflects only a small digital footprint that patients can reach and review. UR - https://cardio.jmir.org/2021/1/e22975 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/22975 UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33625359 ID - info:doi/10.2196/22975 ER -