Visit Data and Telehealth in a Clinic for Trafficked Persons: Virtual Care and Human Trafficking During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author: Hadjikyriakou, Maria; Martinez-Sosa, Natalie; Harvey, Philip; Efantis Potter, JoNell; Johnson, Latoya; Kenny, Maureen & Alhajji, Lujain

Abstract: Human trafficking involves coerced labor or sex. THRIVE, a multidisciplinary University of Miami clinic for trafficked persons, transitioned to a hybrid telehealth model during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper presents appointment data across THRIVE clinic services during this transition. A review of appointments for THRIVE patients (n=156) was conducted to compare pre- pandemic (February 2019 to February 2020) and pandemic (March 2020 to December 2021) appointment trends. There were 15% more scheduled (n=51.1 versus n=44) and 8% more completed (n=30.2 versus n=27.9) appointments per month early in the pandemic period with telehealth use compared to the pre- pandemic period. Telehealth was most used within psychiatry. Rescheduled and no-show appointments per month significantly increased during the pandemic period (p=0.010 in pandemic period 1 and p=0.028 in pandemic period 2). There were few significant differences in appointment trends according to demographic variables. Telehealth succeeded in connecting THRIVE patients during the pandemic, highlighting its potential for long-term use amongst trafficked persons.

Keywords: telemedicine, COVID-19, human trafficking, delivery of health care