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Implementing Telemedicine Visits in an Underserved Ophthalmology Clinic in the COVID-19 Era
| Content Provider | SAGE Publishing |
|---|---|
| Author | Adeli, Mona Bloom, William R. |
| Copyright Year | 2021 |
| Abstract | Introduction:Many of the potential barriers to providing telehealth services already disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the incorporation of synchronous ophthalmology telemedicine visits in a tertiary university-based ophthalmology clinic for low-income and uninsured patients in the COVID-19 era.Methods:The records of 18 patients who were due for an in-person visit in the medically underserved patient clinic at our institute were reviewed. Patients considered high risk of ocular morbidity progression were approved to proceed with an in-person visit. Patients with non-urgent visit indications were attempted to be contacted by telephone to be offered a telemedicine telephone visit as an alternative to a postponed in-person office visit.Results:Clinical triage by an attending ophthalmologist determined that 17 patients (94.4%, n = 18) had visit indications appropriate for evaluation by telemedicine. Six patients (35.3%, n = 17) were successfully contacted and offered a telemedicine visit as an alternative to a postponed in-person office visit. All 6 patients accepted, scheduled, and completed a telemedicine visit. Eleven patients (64.7%, n = 17) were not able to be successfully contacted to offer and schedule either a telemedicine visit or a postponed in-person office visit. Patients who were not able to be successfully contacted were on average younger in age and more likely to be female, Hispanic/Latino, from Latin America, with a preferred language of Spanish.Conclusions:Synchronous ophthalmology telemedicine visits can be successfully incorporated in a tertiary university-based setting for low-income and uninsured patients. The primary barrier to providing telemedicine visits in this population was the ability to successfully contact patients to offer and schedule these visits. |
| Related Links | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2150132721996278?download=true |
| ISSN | 21501319 |
| Volume Number | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health (JPC) |
| e-ISSN | 21501327 |
| DOI | 10.1177/2150132721996278 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Sage Publications CA |
| Publisher Date | 2021-02-22 |
| Publisher Place | Los Angeles |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Rights Holder | © The Author(s) 2021 |
| Subject Keyword | telehealth telemedicine uninsured ophthalmology COVID-19 underserved |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
| Subject | Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Community and Home Care |
