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KMID : 1189320210150020164
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Asian Spine Journal
2021 Volume.15 No. 2 p.164 ~ p.171
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Making a Traditional Spine Surgery Clinic Telemedicine-Ready in the “New Normal” of Coronavirus Disease 2019
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Liu Ka-Po Gabriel
Tan Wei Loong Barry
Yip Wei Luen James
Tan Jun-Hao
Wong Hee-Kit
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Abstract
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Study Design: An original article describing a comprehensive methodology for making a traditional spine surgery clinic telemedicine-ready in terms of logistical considerations and workflow.
Purpose: The aim of this study is to promote the use of telemedicine via videoconferencing to reduce human exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and reduce the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission at outpatient clinics.
Overview of Literature: The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest healthcare crisis in the 21st century. Until a vaccine is developed or herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is achieved, social distancing to avoid crowding is an important strategy to reduce disease transmission and resurgence. Telemedicine has already been applied in the field of orthopedics with encouraging results.
Methods: We reviewed the evidence behind telemedicine and described our clinical protocol, patient selection criteria, and workflow for telemedicine. We discussed a simple methodology to convert pre-existing traditional clinic resources into telemedicine tools, along with future challenges.
Results: Our methodology was successfully and easily applied in our clinical practice, with a streamlined workflow allowing our spine surgery service to implement telemedicine as a consultation modality in line with the national recommendations of social distancing.
Conclusions: Telemedicine was well incorporated into our outpatient practice using the above workflow. We believe that the use of telemedicine via videoconferencing can become part of the new normal and a safe strategy for healthcare systems as both a medical and an economic countermeasure against COVID-19.
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KEYWORD
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SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Telemedicine, Remote consultation, Videoconferencing, Spine surgery, Spine clinic
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