Telemedicine evaluation of new head and neck patients at a tertiary academic clinic during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
J Telemed Telecare
; : 1357633X221100054, 2022 Jun 06.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1879171
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Coronavirus disease 2019 accelerated the use of virtual visits within health care. We examined the utility of telemedicine for conducting visits in a tertiary head and neck practice.METHODS:
A retrospective study was conducted on patients presenting via video to a tertiary-level head and neck clinic between January 2020 and December 2020. Patient demographics were collected in addition to visit indication, diagnostic imaging/tests at the time of visit, and post-visit plan. Visits were deemed successful if evaluation by video was sufficient in determining a clinical plan and did not require deferment of recommendations for subsequent in-person consult visits and/or work-up (labs, imaging). Logistic regression was performed to identify variables that served as significant predictors of successful video visits.RESULTS:
A total of 124 video visits were reviewed. Video visits were successful for the initial evaluation 88.7% of the time (n = 110). Computerized tomographic scans were the most available diagnostic test, available for 54% of patients (n = 67), followed by biopsy report 30.6% (n = 38). Visit indication had a statistically significant effect on whether a treatment plan could be made (p = 0.024). For new patients with parotid masses (n = 42), definitive treatment plans could be made 97.6% of the time (n = 41). Patients presenting with an indication of thyroid mass (odds ratio 0.19 (confidence interval 0.00072-0.50), p = 0.018) and other neck mass (odds ratio 0.035 (confidence interval 0.0014, 0.90), p = 0.043) were at significantly lesser odds than parotid patients to have a successful video visit.DISCUSSION:
In this study, virtual visits were successful for a high percentage of head and neck visits, particularly among patients seeking evaluation for parotid-related concerns.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
J Telemed Telecare
Journal subject:
Medical Informatics
/
Health Services
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
1357633X221100054
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