OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF REMOTE NEUROLOGICAL OUTPATIENT CONSULTATIONS

ABSTRACT

Croydon University Hospital Remote consultations were rapidly introduced in the spring of 2020 in the neurology outpatient setting across the UK and worldwide due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Consulting remotely provides new chal-lenges to previously familiar practices. Here we present four different but commonly seen cases in a south London outpatient neurology service. With each case we address a key domain history taking, examina-tion, the digital divide and changing the consulting environment. History taking is largely unchanged and indeed may improve the patient experience when performed in a familiar environment. The examina-tion is different and a greater understanding of which aspects of the neurological exam are and are not possible remotely continues to be discussed. The adoption of remote consultations requires patients to have a confident ability to activate and interact with technologies. The future development of technolo-gies and guidelines should proactively engage with patients of all ages and abilities to avoid biases in their development. Remote consultations are likely to continue to play a part in the future of outpatient neurology;understanding their most effective allocation and proactively developing technologies with patients will be essential for their success.