Clinical and Engagement Efficacy of a Virtual Musculoskeletal Integrated Practice Unit in Health System Employees: Aggregate and Comparative Results from Two Employers

Eric Makhni^1*Emily Schnettler¹Prakash Jayakumar²Sameer Berry^1,3Jeff Vandenboom¹Courtland Keteyian¹Russell Day³Bruce Muma¹

• ¹Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, United States
• ²Duke University Medical Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
• ³University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Introduction: Integrated Practice Units are whole-person models of care designed to deliver a comprehensive range of treatment strategies centered around a patient's preferences, values, and needs. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a virtual IPU (V-IPU) for employees of a large health system experiencing back or joint pain. Specifically, we evaluated improvements in pain interference, physical health, and user satisfaction/experience. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study with a total of 167 employees from two health systems who were This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article recruited through e-mail outreach and completed a brief health assessment, including patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for physical, emotional, and pain health. Upon sign-up, employees began a 12-week multidisciplinary program consisting of physician-led exercise program, nutrition counseling, and platform to in-person specialty services when clinically appropriate. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores for physical health, mental health, and pain interference were assessed at intake, 6-weeks, and 12-weeks after program initiation. Net promoter score (NPS) was measured to evaluate participant experience and satisfaction with the program. Results: The average age was 50.56 years, and a large majority of responders were female (89.2%). There were clinically meaningful improvements for PROMIS measures of physical health, mental health and pain interference (5.6, 4.4 and 6.9 points, respectively). The Net Promoter Score was 85 for engaged individuals. Additionally, the V-IPU was successful in connecting employees to additional surgical-avoiding services offered by the employer and which complemented the digital participation of the V-IPU. Conclusion: The V-IPU improves health outcomes and care coordination for health system employees. These findings support the use of virtual multidisciplinary models to enhance access and outcomes in employer-based health initiatives.