McDiarmid MA, Hines S, Cloeren M, Gucer P, Condon M, Oliver M, Roth T, Lewin-Smith MR, Strathmann F, Velez-Quinones MA, Gaitens JM. The Department of Veterans' Affairs Depleted Uranium Cohort in the Time of COVID-19: Translating a Traditional Surveillance Protocol to a Telehealth Platform.
J Occup Environ Med 2023;
65:670-676. [PMID:
37167933 PMCID:
PMC10417219 DOI:
10.1097/jom.0000000000002875]
[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] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
In 2021, 37 members of a cohort of depleted uranium-exposed Gulf War I veterans were evaluated using a protocol tailored to accommodate COVID-19 safety practices on a telehealth platform.
METHODS
Individual elements of the legacy protocol were reviewed for urgency and feasibility of inclusion in a modified, telehealth platform.
RESULTS
The redesigned protocol included a participant readiness for telehealth assessment, nurse and physician telehealth visits, collection of usual health questionnaires, and urine collections for exposure monitoring for uranium and other fragment-related metal measures.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite some limitations in scope, the telehealth platform permitted a visual "visit" with surveillance participants who expressed a high comfort level with the format. The telehealth platform has apparent utility for occupational surveillance and should be explored as a standard approach for surveillance outside of public health emergencies.
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