Spasticity Outpatient Evaluation via Telemedicine: A Practical Framework.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in significant changes to delivery of care in the field of physiatry. Most prominently, in-person visits have fast tracked to virtual visits. As we are forced to quickly adopt this new technology for our doctor-patient interactions, many questions remain with regard to structuring telemedicine visits for optimal outcomes. Little has been written on virtual evaluations of patients with spasticity. The intent of this article was to provide a framework for conducting a virtual spasticity assessment via telemedicine. We will provide tips on how to conduct a person-centered virtual examination assessment and how to document goals related to the virtual assessment.

COVID-19 pandemic. What should Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine specialists do? A clinician's perspective

COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading all over the world, creating the risk for a healthcare collapse. While acute care and intensive care units are the main pillars of the early response to the disease, rehabilitative medicine should play an important part in allowing COVID-19 survivors to reduce disability and optimize the function of acute hospital setting. The aim of this study was to share the experience and the international perspective of different rehabilitation centers, treating COVID-19 survivors. A group of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists from eleven different countries in Europe and North America have shared their clinical experience in dealing with COVID-19 survivors and how they have managed the re-organization of rehabilitation services. In our experience the most important sequelae of severe and critical forms of COVID-19 are: 1) respiratory;2) cognitive, central and peripheral nervous system;3) deconditioning;4) critical illness related myopathy and neuropathy;5) dysphagia;6) joint stiffness and pain;7) psychiatric. We analyze all these consequences and propose some practical treatment options, based on current evidence and clinical experience, as well as several suggestions for management of rehabilitation services and patients with suspected or confirmed infection by SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 survivors have some specific rehabilitation needs. Experience from other centers may help colleagues in organizing their services and providing better care to their patients.