Telemedicine in the COVID-19 era: the new normal
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Eur Surg https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-020-00666-9
Telemedicine in the COVID-19 era: the new normal Praveen Kumar · Farhanul Huda · Somprakas Basu
Received: 15 August 2020 / Accepted: 1 September 2020 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature 2020
Dear Editor, It is now known that COVID-19 is spreading through aerosolized droplets. In order to avoid face-to-face contact without hampering healthcare provision, telemedicine (TM), which is now a part of the digital health systems of various countries, needs to be applied more effectively. Except for acute cases, chronic conditions and follow-up visits can be managed using TM, and thus unnecessary hospital visits are reduced while ensuring triage and treatment of the seriously ill. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers TM as a mode of healthcare delivery when the distance is a critical factor [1]. It is, therefore, essential to learning information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information. In this pandemic, many boundaries have been pushed back and opportunities are constantly being explored. The application of TM embarks in areas that were once considered potentially unsafe for its use in healthcare; however, the lack of uniform legislation to integrate TM into healthcare is a significant challenge in its extended use in the current pandemic [2]. In order to be effective, health providers should have the necessary education, licensure, and professional capacity to deliver healthcare services through TM. In order to expand its use, strict regulations on the requirements for the establishment of the patient-provider relationship and credentialing have been waived on many occasions. Direct access testing laws have allowed laboratories to do diagnostic tests following teleconsultation with the physician [3]. The United States (US) Drug Enforcement Administration allowed prescribing controlled substances with teleP. Kumar · F. Huda · S. Basu () Department of Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India [email protected]
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consultation, in an audio-visual, real-time two-way communication mode [4]. Even informed consent has been taken through TM [5]. In these circumstances, it is challenging to maintain records, privacy, and confidentiality. Platforms such as Messenger, Video Chat, Google Video, and Skype have been used according to new regulatory flexibilities in TM [6]. TM can be used to forward triage before a patient reaches the hospital [7]. Triage is done in two phases, firstly a telephone triage for potential COVID-19 cases or contacts followed by an in-office triage that identifies cases which were in the incubation period at the time of telephone triage and developed symptoms before the in-office visit. Chronic stable diseases such as diabetes, COPD, hypertension, and immunodeficiency diseases can be managed by TM without increasing the risk of complications or exposure. It decreases the cost of follow-up visits, and no difference in the treatment of chronic conditions by TM over inpers
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