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Gashaw DG, Alemu ZA, Constanzo F, Belay FT, Tadesse YW, Muñoz C, Rojas JP, Alvarado-Livacic C. COVID-19 patient satisfaction and associated factors in telemedicine and hybrid system. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1384078. [PMID: 38645451 PMCID: PMC11028400 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1384078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The quality assessment of the home-based isolation and care program (HBIC) relies heavily on patient satisfaction and length of stay. COVID-19 patients who were isolated and received HBIC were monitored through telephone consultations (TC), in-person TC visits, and a self-reporting application. By evaluating patient satisfaction and length of stay in HBIC, healthcare providers could gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of the HBIC program. Methods A cross-sectional study design enrolled 444 HBIC patients who answered a structured questionnaire. A binary logistic regression model assessed the association between independent variables and patient satisfaction. The length of stay in HBIC was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. The data collection started on April (1-30), 2022, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Results The median age was 34, and 247 (55.6%) were females. A greater proportion (313, 70.5%) of the participants had high satisfaction. Higher frequency of calls (>3 calls) (AOR = 2.827, 95% CI = 1.798, 4.443, p = 0.000) and those who were symptomatic (AOR = 2.001, 95% CI = 1.289, 3.106, p = 0.002) were found to be significant factors for high user satisfaction. Higher frequency of calls (>3 calls) (AHR = 0.537, 95% CI = 0.415, 0.696, p = 0.000) and more in-person visits (>1 visit) (AHR = 0.495, 95% CI = 0.322, 0.762, p = 0.001) had greater chances to reduce the length of stay in the COVID-19 HBIC. Conclusion 70.5% of the participants had high satisfaction with the system, and frequent phone call follow-ups on patients' clinical status can significantly improve their satisfaction and length of recovery. An in-person visit is also an invaluable factor in a patient's recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmawit G. Gashaw
- National Public Health Emergency Operation Center, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Freddy Constanzo
- Neurology Unit, Hospital Las Higueras, Talcahuano, Chile
- Medical Program in Adult Neurology, School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Feben T. Belay
- National Training Center, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Carla Muñoz
- Medical Program in Adult Neurology, School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Rojas
- Medical Program in Adult Neurology, School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Cristobal Alvarado-Livacic
- Medical Program in Adult Neurology, School of Medicine, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Recasens BB, Balañá Corberó A, Llorens JMM, Guillen-Sola A, Moreno MV, Escobar GG, Umayahara Y, Soh Z, Tsuji T, Rubio MÁ. Sound-based cough peak flow estimation in patients with neuromuscular disorders. Muscle Nerve 2024; 69:213-217. [PMID: 37860934 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS Cough impairment is common in individuals with neuromuscular disorders and is associated with respiratory infections and shorter survival. Cough strength is assessed by measuring cough peak flow (CPF) using a flow meter, but this method requires a complex device setup and trained staff. The aim of the study is to evaluate the reliability of a smartphone app to estimate CPF based on cough sounds in a cohort of individuals with neuromuscular disorders. METHODS Individuals with neuromuscular disorders underwent CPF measurement with a flow meter and a smartphone app. A CPF <270 L/min was considered abnormal. RESULTS Of the 50 patients studied, 26 had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (52%), 15 had hereditary myopathies (30%), and 9 had myasthenia gravis (18%). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the CPF measured with a flow meter and CPF estimated with cough sounds was 0.774 (p < .001) even if the patients had orofacial weakness (ICC = 0.806, p < .001). The smartphone app had 94.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity to detect patients with CPF of less than 270 L/min. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that sounds measured with a smartphone app provide a reliable estimate of CPF in patients with neuromuscular disorders, even in the presence of with orofacial weakness. This may be a convenient way to monitor respiratory involvement in patients with neuromuscular disorders, but larger studies of more diverse patient cohorts are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Balañá Corberó
- ALS/Motor Neuron Diseases Unit, Pneumology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juana María Martínez Llorens
- ALS/Motor Neuron Diseases Unit, Pneumology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar - Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), ISC III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Guillen-Sola
- ALS/Motor Neuron Diseases Unit, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Rehabilitation Research Group, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Greta García Escobar
- ALS/Motor Neuron Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yasutaka Umayahara
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hiroshima Cosmopolitan University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Zu Soh
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Toshio Tsuji
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Miguel Ángel Rubio
- ALS/Motor Neuron Diseases Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Bellaterra, Spain
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Kudritzki V, Howard IM. Telehealth-based exercise in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1238916. [PMID: 37564731 PMCID: PMC10410446 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1238916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has served as a leader in the implementation of telerehabilitation technologies and continues to expand utilization of non-traditional patient encounters to better serve a geographically and demographically diverse population. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease impacting Veterans at a higher rate than the civilian population and associated with high levels of disability and limited access to subspecialized care. There is growing evidence supporting exercise-based interventions as an independent or adjunctive treatment to maintain or restore function for this patient population; many of these interventions can be delivered remotely by telehealth. The recent advancements in disease-modifying therapies for neuromuscular disorders will likely increase the importance of rehabilitation interventions to maximize functional outcomes. Here, we review the evidence for specific exercise interventions in ALS and the evidence for telehealth-based exercise in neuromuscular disorders. We then use this existing literature to propose a framework for telehealth delivery of these treatments, including feasible exercise interventions and remote outcome measures, recommended peripheral devices, and an example of a current remote group exercise program offered through VHA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Kudritzki
- Rehabilitation Care Services, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ileana M. Howard
- Rehabilitation Care Services, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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4
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Fidelix EC, Santana GC, Barros DMDS, Dourado Junior MET. Telehealth for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a multidisciplinary service in a Brazilian reference center. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2023; 81:469-474. [PMID: 37257467 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telehealth has been used in the treatment of different diseases, and it has been shown to provide benefits for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Due to the social distancing measures put into effect during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was an urgent need for telehealth to ensure the provision of healthcare. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of telehealth for the provision of multidisciplinary ALS care, and to assess its acceptability among patients and caregivers. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study in which multidisciplinary evaluations were performed using the Teleconsulta platform. The patients included had ALS and at least one in-person clinical evaluation. The patients and the caregivers answered satisfaction questionnaires. RESULTS The sample was composed of 46 patients, 32 male and 14 female subjects. The average distance from their residences to the reference services was of 115 km. Respiratory adjustment was the most addressed topic. CONCLUSION The strategy is viable and well accepted in terms of satisfaction. It was even more positive for patients in advanced stages of the disease or for those living far from the referral center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Coriolano Fidelix
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Medicina Integrada, Natal RN, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica em Saúde, Natal RN, Brazil
| | - Glauciane Costa Santana
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Medicina Integrada, Natal RN, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica em Saúde, Natal RN, Brazil
| | | | - Mário Emílio Teixeira Dourado Junior
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Departamento de Medicina Integrada, Natal RN, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica em Saúde, Natal RN, Brazil
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5
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Çoban M, Bilge U, Balseven H, Uysal H, Artut B. The economic evaluation of ALS care: quality and cost. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-12. [PMID: 36794629 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2176776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The study aims to analyze the quality of studies that make economic evaluations for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Assessing the quality of studies can guide policy-making and planning. Methods: One of the most recognized checklists "The Consensus on Health Economic Criteria" (CHEC)-list designed by Evers et al. in 2005 aims to answer two important questions: is the methodology of the study appropriate, and are the results of the study valid? We reviewed studies focusing on ALS and its economic costs, and evaluated the studies with (CHEC)-list. Results: We examined 25 articles in terms of their cost evaluation and quality. It is seen that they mainly focus on medical costs, ignoring social care costs. When the quality of the studies is examined, it is seen that the studies overall achieve high scores in terms of their purpose and research question, but some of the studies score low in terms of ethical dimension, comprehensiveness of expenditure items, their application of sensitivity analyses and their study design. Conclusions: The main recommendation of our study for future cost evaluation studies is that they should focus on the questions in the checklist that are scored low overall by the 25 articles, and consider the social care costs as well as medical costs. Our recommendations when designing cost studies can be applied to other chronic diseases with long-term economic costs like ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Çoban
- Department of Healthcare Management, Health Sciences Faculty, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Uğur Bilge
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hale Balseven
- Department of Public Finance, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hilmi Uysal
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey, and
| | - Betül Artut
- Mediterranean Migration Studies, Mediterranean Civilisations Research Institute, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
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6
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Berry JD, Blanchard M, Bonar K, Drane E, Murton M, Ploug U, Ricchetti-Masterson K, Savic N, Worthington E, Heiman-Patterson T. Epidemiology and economic burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the United States: a literature review. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-13. [PMID: 36748473 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2165947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This review sought to gain a comprehensive, up-to-date understanding of the epidemiology and cost and healthcare resource use (HCRU) burden of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the US, at a patient and national level. Methods: A targeted literature review (TLR) to identify epidemiological evidence (prevalence, incidence, mortality, survival), and systematic literature review (SLR) to identify cost and HCRU data published since January 2016, were performed. MEDLINE databases and Embase searches were conducted in January 2021. Key congresses (2019-2020) and bibliographies of relevant SLRs were hand-searched. Two high-quality SLRs were reviewed for additional cost data published between January 2001-2015. Registry and database studies were prioritized for epidemiological evidence. To allow comparison between studies in this publication, only evidence from the US was considered, with costs inflated to the 2020/2021 cost-year and converted to US dollars. Results: Eight studies from the epidemiology TLR, and eighteen from the cost and HCRU SLR, were extracted. Reported ALS incidence in the US was ∼1.5 per 100,000 person-years, and point prevalence ranged from 3.84-5.56 per 100,000 population. Total US national costs spanned ∼$212 million-∼$1.4 billion USD/year, and variably consisted of direct costs associated with HCRU and indirect costs. Conclusions: The national cost of ∼$1.02 billion USD/year (estimated using a prevalence of 16,055 cases) best aligns with prevalence estimates found in the TLR (equating to ∼13,000-18,000 cases). However, large-scale, population-based studies are necessary to precisely assess US epidemiology of ALS and capture all costs needed to inform cost-effectiveness models and resource planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Berry
- Neurological Clinical Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Raes S, Trybou J, Annemans L. How to Pay for Telemedicine: A Comparison of Ten Health Systems. Health Syst Reform 2022; 8:2116088. [PMID: 36084277 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2022.2116088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine has the opportunity to improve clinical effectiveness, health care access, cost-savings, and patient care. However, payment systems may form important obstacles to optimally use telemedicine and enable its opportunities. Little is known about payment systems for telemedicine. Therefore, this research aims to increase knowledge on paying for telemedicine by comparing payment systems for telemedicine and identifying similarities and differences. Based on the countries' official physician fee schedules, listing all reimbursed medical services performed by physicians, a comparative analysis of telemedicine payment systems in ten countries was conducted. Findings show that many countries lacked tele-expertise and telemonitoring payment, with the exception for some specific payments such as for telemonitoring in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. Moreover, a wide variety of benefit specifications were implemented in all countries to specify which type of clinician contact should be used (remote versus physical) in which circumstances. Payment parity between video and in-person visits was established only in a few countries. Furthermore, fee-for-service was the dominant payment system, although two countries used a capitation-based or hybrid system. The results imply several potential payment challenges when implementing telemedicine: complex benefit specifications, payment parity discussions, and risk of overconsumption due to the dominant fee-for-service system. These challenges appear to be less present in capitation-based or hybrid systems. However, the latter needs to be further explored to harness the full potential of telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Raes
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Trybou
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieven Annemans
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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8
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Guidon AC, Muppidi S, Nowak RJ, Guptill JT, Hehir MK, Ruzhansky K, Burton LB, Post D, Cutter G, Conwit R, Mejia NI, Kaminski HJ, Howard JF. Telemedicine visits in myasthenia gravis: Expert guidance and the Myasthenia Gravis Core Exam (MG-CE). Muscle Nerve 2021; 64:270-276. [PMID: 33959997 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS Telemedicine may be particularly well-suited for myasthenia gravis (MG) due to the disorder's need for specialized care, its hallmark fluctuating muscle weakness, and the potential for increased risk of virus exposure among patients with MG during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic during in-person clinical visits. A disease-specific telemedicine physical examination to reflect myasthenic weakness does not currently exist. METHODS This paper outlines step-by-step guidance on the fundamentals of a telemedicine assessment for MG. The Myasthenia Gravis Core Exam (MG-CE) is introduced as a MG-specific, telemedicine, physical examination, which contains eight components (ptosis, diplopia, facial strength, bulbar strength, dysarthria, single breath count, arm strength, and sit to stand) and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. RESULTS Pre-visit preparation, remote ascertainment of patient-reported outcome scales and visit documentation are also addressed. DISCUSSION Additional knowledge gaps in telemedicine specific to MG care are identified for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C Guidon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Srikanth Muppidi
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University Hospital, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Richard J Nowak
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Guptill
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael K Hehir
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Katherine Ruzhansky
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Leeann B Burton
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Post
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University Hospital, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Gary Cutter
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Robin Conwit
- Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, NINDS, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Nicte I Mejia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Henry J Kaminski
- Department of Neurology, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - James F Howard
- Department of Neurology, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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9
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Der-Martirosian C, Heyworth L, Chu K, Mudoh Y, Dobalian A. Patient Characteristics of VA Telehealth Users During Hurricane Harvey. J Prim Care Community Health 2021; 11:2150132720931715. [PMID: 32507009 PMCID: PMC7278288 DOI: 10.1177/2150132720931715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Research on patient characteristics of telehealth users is relatively new. More studies are needed to understand the characteristics of telehealth users during disasters. This study attempts to bridge this gap and examines patient characteristics of telehealth users compared with nontelehealth users at the Houston VA Medical Center (VAMC) immediately before and after Hurricane Harvey (2017). Methods: Since use of telehealth services reached its peak and gradually declined within 2 weeks after the landfall, the data analyses focused on 14 days before/14 days after Harvey. Two sets of analyses were conducted using chi-square, t test, and one-way analysis of variance: (1) Patient characteristics of telehealth users were compared with nontelehealth users. (2) Patient characteristics were compared between 3 subgroups of telehealth users. Results: Compared with nontelehealth users, telehealth users were older (mean age: 60.8 vs 58.5 years, P < .001) and had a higher mean Nosos health risk score (1.9 vs 1.4, P < .001). They also had a higher mean number of outpatient visits (28.0 vs 19.8, P < .001), higher emergency room use (37% vs 29%, P < .001), and higher rates of hospitalizations (21% vs 13%, P < .001) during the 12 months before Harvey. When compared to less frequent telehealth users, the most frequent telehealth users were the oldest and most medically complex patients. Conclusions: As the largest integrated health care system in the United States, the VA has many advantages favoring successful implementation of telehealth services during disasters. However, more research is needed to better understand how VA telehealth could meet the varying needs of veterans to lower risk of harm during differing types of disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Der-Martirosian
- Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA, USA
| | | | - Karen Chu
- Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA, USA
| | - Yvonne Mudoh
- Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA, USA
| | - Aram Dobalian
- Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, North Hills, CA, USA.,University of Memphis School of Public Health, Memphis, TN, USA
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10
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Lopez JJ, Svetanoff WJ, Rosen JM, Carrasco A, Rentea RM. Leveraging Collaboration in Pediatric Multidisciplinary Colorectal Care Using a Telehealth Platform. Am Surg 2021; 88:2320-2326. [PMID: 34105388 DOI: 10.1177/00031348211023428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pediatric colorectal problems often require complex multidisciplinary care (MDC), which has been affected by the SARS-CoV-2-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We describe our utilization and implementation of telehealth (TH) for pediatric colorectal surgery MDC visits and collate patient satisfaction using TH compared to in-person (IP) visits. METHODS Implementation of a single-institution MDC TH platform to perform patient visits on February 1, 2020 was studied. Following 6 months of implementation, TH visits' characteristics were compared with IP visits in the 3 months before implementation by patient volume, length of clinic visits, and patient satisfaction survey results. RESULTS Before implementation, 152 (100%) of clinic visits were IP. During the implementation, 87 (37.7%) were TH visits. Seventy-four (49%) were MDC visits, 17 (23%) of these using the TH platform. Each TH visit's median length was 25 minutes (IQR 15-30), while the median length of IP visits was 45 minutes (IQR 30-45). Pre-implementation satisfaction scores were 88.6% positive, while satisfaction scores after implementation were 96.8% positive. None of the patients who utilized the TH platform had an unplanned hospital admission within 24 hours of being seen. CONCLUSION Our experience demonstrates that the TH platform can provide an efficient avenue for established patients and families to receive highly complex multidisciplinary follow-up care. High levels of patient satisfaction indicated that TH should become part of the routine care plan for patients who require long-term or consistent follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Lopez
- Comprehensive Colorectal Center, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Wendy Jo Svetanoff
- Comprehensive Colorectal Center, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - John M Rosen
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Alonso Carrasco
- Department of Pediatric Urology, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Rebecca M Rentea
- Comprehensive Colorectal Center, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, 4204Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
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11
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Shah NM, Kaltsakas G. Telemedicine in the management of patients with chronic respiratory failure. Breathe (Sheff) 2021; 17:210008. [PMID: 34295411 PMCID: PMC8291909 DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0008-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with chronic respiratory failure are often required to attend multiple hospital appointments, which may be difficult due to their physical disabilities and the amount of equipment they are required to bring. Their caregivers often struggle with the lack of immediate care available when the patient suffers difficulties at home. Telemedicine is an opportunity to bridge the gap between home and healthcare professionals by allowing the healthcare team to reach into patients' homes to provide more frequent support. The evidence for the use of telemedicine in patients with chronic respiratory failure remains equivocal. Although the uptake of telemedicine has been slow, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in the rapid dissemination of telemedicine to allow the delivery of care to vulnerable patients while reducing the need for their attendance in hospital. Logistical and legal challenges to the delivery of telemedicine remain, but the pandemic may serve as a driver to ameliorate these challenges and facilitate wider use of this technology to improve the experience of patients with chronic respiratory failure. Educational aims To provide an overview of the rationale for delivering care via telemedicine for patients with chronic respiratory failure.To provide the evidence base for establishing a telemedicine service.To highlight the potential opportunities and challenges in delivering a telemedicine service for patients with chronic respiratory failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj M Shah
- Lane Fox Respiratory Service, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Lane Fox Clinical Respiratory Physiology Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences (CHAPS), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Georgios Kaltsakas
- Lane Fox Respiratory Service, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Lane Fox Clinical Respiratory Physiology Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences (CHAPS), King's College London, London, UK
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12
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García-Álvarez D, Sempere-Rubio N, Faubel R. Economic Evaluation in Neurological Physiotherapy: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci 2021; 11:265. [PMID: 33669731 PMCID: PMC7922314 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This systematic review was carried out to compile and assess original studies that included economic evaluations of neurological physiotherapy interventions. A thorough search of PubMED, Cochrane and Embase was developed using keywords such as health economics, neurological physiotherapy and cost analysis, and studies published during the last six-year term were selected. A total of 3124 studies were analyzed, and 43 were eligible for inclusion. Among the studies analyzed, 48.8% were interventions for stroke patients, and 13.9% were focused on Parkinson's disease. In terms of the countries involved, 46.5% of the studies included were developed in the UK, and 13.9% were from the USA. The economic analysis most frequently used was cost-utility, implemented in 22 of the studies. A cost-effectiveness analysis was also developed in nine of those studies. The distribution of studies including an economic evaluation in this discipline showed a clear geographic dominance in terms of the pathology. A clear upward trend was noted in the economic evaluation of interventions developed in neurological physiotherapy. However, these studies should be promoted for their use in evidence-based clinical practice and decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- David García-Álvarez
- Physiotherapist, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Núria Sempere-Rubio
- Department of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
- Clinical Biomechanics Research Unit (UBIC), Department of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, 46010 València, Spain
| | - Raquel Faubel
- Department of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
- Joint Research Unit in Biomedical Engineering, IIS La Fe-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- PTinMOTION, Physiotherapy in Motion, Multispeciality Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Telehealth in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Opportunities and Challenges for Patients and Physicians. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11020237. [PMID: 33668641 PMCID: PMC7917616 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telehealth, by definition, is distributing health-related services while using electronic technologies. This narrative Review describes the technological health services (telemedicine and telemonitoring) for delivering care in neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis, among others. This paper aims to illustrate this approach's primary experience and application, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses, with the goal of understanding which could be the most useful application for each one, in order to facilitate telehealth improvement and use in standard clinical practice. We also described the potential role of the COVID-19 pandemic to speed up this service's use, avoiding a sudden interruption of medical care.
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Bertran Recasens B, Rubio MA. Neuromuscular Diseases Care in the Era of COVID-19. Front Neurol 2020; 11:588929. [PMID: 33329336 PMCID: PMC7732578 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.588929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed health systems to their limit and forced readjustment of standards of care for different pathologies. Management of neuromuscular diseases becomes a challenge since most of them are chronic, disabling, progressive, and/or require immunosuppressive drugs. There are three main aspects of COVID-19 that affect neuromuscular diseases care. The first one relates to how SARS-CoV2 directly affects different neuromuscular pathologies. Respiratory weakness, as seen in myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and myopathies, and the use of immunomodulatory drugs (Myasthenia Gravis and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) make this group of patients potentially more vulnerable. Secondly, safety measures also affect proper care, limiting care continuity, and physical rehabilitation (one of the essential aspects of myopathies treatment). Telemedicine can partially solve the problem allowing for a continuum of close care, avoiding unnecessary visits, and even guaranteeing the attention of professionals from tertiary care centers. However, one of the crucial steps in neuromuscular diseases is diagnosis, and in most scenarios, more than one face-to-face visit is needed. Lastly, the global COVID-19 situation will also have an economic impact on patients and their families. This situation is of particular concern given that neuromuscular diseases already present difficulties due to the scarcity of resources in terms of public healthcare and research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel Angel Rubio
- Neuromuscular Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Pinto S, Quintarelli S, Silani V. New technologies and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Which step forward rushed by the COVID-19 pandemic? J Neurol Sci 2020; 418:117081. [PMID: 32882437 PMCID: PMC7403097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.117081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fast-progressive neurodegenerative disease leading to progressive physical immobility with usually normal or mild cognitive and/or behavioural involvement. Many patients are relatively young, instructed, sensitive to new technologies, and professionally active when developing the first symptoms. Older patients usually require more time, encouragement, reinforcement and a closer support but, nevertheless, selecting user-friendly devices, provided earlier in the course of the disease, and engaging motivated carers may overcome many technological barriers. ALS may be considered a model for neurodegenerative diseases to further develop and test new technologies. From multidisciplinary teleconsults to telemonitoring of the respiratory function, telemedicine has the potentiality to embrace other fields, including nutrition, physical mobility, and the interaction with the environment. Brain-computer interfaces and eye tracking expanded the field of augmentative and alternative communication in ALS but their potentialities go beyond communication, to cognition and robotics. Virtual reality and different forms of artificial intelligence present further interesting possibilities that deserve to be investigated. COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented opportunity to speed up the development and implementation of new technologies in clinical practice, improving the daily living of both ALS patients and carers. The present work reviews the current technologies for ALS patients already in place or being under evaluation with published publications, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Pinto
- Translational and Clinical Physiology Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Stefano Quintarelli
- AgID - Italian digital agency and Clusit - Italian Computer Security Association, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology-Stroke Unit and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS - Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, “Dino Ferrari” Center and Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutics, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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16
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Abstract
Many neuromuscular disorders (NMD) are complicated by respiratory failure. These patients are best managed in a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic to provide timely access to the various disciplines they require. The key mainstay of treatment of respiratory failure in patients with NMD is noninvasive ventilation, supported by secretion clearance, speech and language therapy, optimisation of nutrition and the maintenance of mobility. Patients with specific conditions may also require cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, urology and psychological services. The respiratory NMD multidisciplinary team should also provide access to palliative care, and caregiver health and wellbeing should also be reviewed at clinical reviews. The future of care for the respiratory NMD patient will increasingly involve home services and telehealth and the clinic should be equipped and resourced to deliver these. Although not all health systems will be able to provide all elements of the multidisciplinary team discussed here, this review provides the “ideal” recipe for the adult multidisciplinary team and the evidence base underpinning this from which a clinic can be developed. Care for neuromuscular-related respiratory failure is complex and is best delivered in a multidisciplinary context. The future will increasingly involve home services and telehealth, and their burden needs to be considered when establishing this service.https://bit.ly/33fNsMT
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj M Shah
- Lane Fox Respiratory Service, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Lane Fox Clinical Respiratory Physiology Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences (CHAPS), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Patrick B Murphy
- Lane Fox Respiratory Service, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Lane Fox Clinical Respiratory Physiology Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences (CHAPS), King's College London, London, UK
| | - Georgios Kaltsakas
- Lane Fox Respiratory Service, St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Lane Fox Clinical Respiratory Physiology Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences (CHAPS), King's College London, London, UK
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Bhaskar S, Bradley S, Chattu VK, Adisesh A, Nurtazina A, Kyrykbayeva S, Sakhamuri S, Moguilner S, Pandya S, Schroeder S, Banach M, Ray D. Telemedicine as the New Outpatient Clinic Gone Digital: Position Paper From the Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) International Consortium (Part 2). Front Public Health 2020; 8:410. [PMID: 33014958 PMCID: PMC7505101 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Technology has acted as a great enabler of patient continuity through remote consultation, ongoing monitoring, and patient education using telephone and videoconferencing in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. The devastating impact of COVID-19 is bound to prevail beyond its current reign. The vulnerable sections of our community, including the elderly, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those with multiple comorbidities, and immunocompromised patients, endure a relatively higher burden of a pandemic such as COVID-19. The rapid adoption of different technologies across countries, driven by the need to provide continued medical care in the era of social distancing, has catalyzed the penetration of telemedicine. Limiting the exposure of patients, healthcare workers, and systems is critical in controlling the viral spread. Telemedicine offers an opportunity to improve health systems delivery, access, and efficiency. This article critically examines the current telemedicine landscape and challenges in its adoption, toward remote/tele-delivery of care, across various medical specialties. The current consortium provides a roadmap and/or framework, along with recommendations, for telemedicine uptake and implementation in clinical practice during and beyond COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonu Bhaskar
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Neurology, Liverpool Hospital and South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neurovascular Imaging Laboratory & NSW Brain Clot Bank, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,South Western Sydney Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sian Bradley
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine Sydney, South West Sydney Clinical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vijay Kumar Chattu
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Anil Adisesh
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alma Nurtazina
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Saltanat Kyrykbayeva
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Semey Medical University, Semey, Kazakhstan
| | - Sateesh Sakhamuri
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Sebastian Moguilner
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Shawna Pandya
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Alberta Health Services and Project PoSSUM, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Starr Schroeder
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital and Project PoSSUM, Lancaster, PA, United States
| | - Maciej Banach
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute (PMMHRI), Łódz, Poland.,Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Zielona Gora, Zielona Gora, Poland.,Department of Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Łódz, Poland
| | - Daniel Ray
- Pandemic Health System REsilience PROGRAM (REPROGRAM) Consortium, REPROGRAM Telemedicine Sub-committee, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Farr Institute of Health Informatics, University College London (UCL) & NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Haulman A, Geronimo A, Chahwala A, Simmons Z. The Use of Telehealth to Enhance Care in ALS and other Neuromuscular Disorders. Muscle Nerve 2020; 61:682-691. [PMID: 32297678 PMCID: PMC10797583 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Telehealth has the potential to improve the efficiency of healthcare while reducing the burden on patients and caregivers. Encounters can be synchronous or asynchronous. When used for care of those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by individual health care providers or by a multidisciplinary team, synchronous telehealth is feasible, acceptable, may produce outcomes comparable to those of in-person care, and is cost effective. Individuals with ALS who use telehealth tend to have lower physical and respiratory function and to live farther from an ALS clinic than those who exclusively attend in-person clinic visits. Asynchronous telehealth can be used as a substitute full multidisciplinary visits, or for remote monitoring of pulmonary function, gait/falls, and speech. Barriers to implementing telehealth on a wider scale include disparities in access to technology and challenges surrounding medical licensure and billing, but these are being addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Haulman
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrew Geronimo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Amit Chahwala
- Department of Virtual Health, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Zachary Simmons
- Department of Neurology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
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