ABSTRACT
The pandemic has resulted in many changes to health services, one of these is the shift from face-to-face consultations to virtual ones across all specialities. As the pandemic continues with no end in sight it seems that virtual consultations will continue for the foreseeable future. In this article, we analyze the patient feedback so far to virtual consultations in a large tertiary center and use this opportunity to reflect on this new service. We have a particular interest in musculoskeletal services as this is largely an outpatient-based speciality and the pandemic has consequently resulted in significant changes in practice. We also consider whether virtual clinics is a sustainable service post-COVID-19 and the benefits and disadvantages of this.
Subject(s)
Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use , COVID-19/prevention & control , Communicable Disease Control/trends , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Rheumatic Diseases/drug therapy , Rheumatology/trends , Antirheumatic Agents/adverse effects , COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/transmission , Clinical Decision-Making , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/trends , Rheumatic Diseases/immunology , Rheumatologists/trends , Risk Assessment , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
This editorial explores how technology has helped clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, from patient care to education, the changes that have been made and the numerous exciting possibilities of where technology can amalgamate with health care.