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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Quantity and Characteristics of Ophthalmology Consults.
Tingley, Jennifer; Tauber, Jenna; Thuma, Tobin; Moon, Jee-Young; Barmettler, Anne.
  • Tingley J; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
  • Tauber J; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
  • Thuma T; Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
  • Moon JY; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.
  • Barmettler A; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
Telemed J E Health ; 28(10): 1547-1551, 2022 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2062837
ABSTRACT

Purpose:

To assess the COVID-19 exposure risk to consulting ophthalmologists and the pandemic effect on consultations at one of the most impacted hospital systems in New York.

Methods:

In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, ophthalmology consult notes and COVID-19 test results were collected from the electronic medical record from February to May in 2019 and 2020.

Results:

Of 2,215 total notes analyzed, consults decreased from 1,374 to 841 between years (p = 0.0002). In 2020, 22.5% of all consults were COVID tested and 2.4% were positive within 2 weeks of in-person evaluation. In 2020, 1.8% of consults were electronic. Ventilated patients increased between years (7.5% to 10.8%; p = 0.04).

Conclusions:

Although consultations decreased during the Spring 2020 peak, the majority (98.2%) remained as in-person evaluations. While few patients tested COVID positive, this likely reflects the limited availability of testing early in the pandemic. Consulting ophthalmologists remained at high risk of COVID-19 exposure during the pandemic peak.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ophthalmology / Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Telemed J E Health Journal subject: Medical Informatics / Health Services Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Tmj.2021.0512

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ophthalmology / Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Telemed J E Health Journal subject: Medical Informatics / Health Services Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Tmj.2021.0512