Telemedicine Foot and Ankle Visits in the COVID-19 Era

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sameh Labib, Emory University; Rahul Goel, Emory University; Wesley Manz, Emory University; Jason Bariteau, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-01-01
• Publisher: SAGE Publishing
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2473011421994068
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 2473011421994068
• End Page: 2473011421994068
• Grant/Funding Information: The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article
• Keywords: practice management; COVID-19; telemedicine
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created a difficult environment to provide musculoskeletal care to patients with foot and ankle pathology given the limitations placed on in-office visits. Telemedicine offered a unique avenue to reach these patients; however, the efficacy of telemedicine visits in patients with foot and ankle pathology is not well studied. We propose a telemedicine protocol that has allowed us to effectively see and treat patients with foot and ankle pathology. Methods: A 12-step standardized telemedicine protocol was created within the Foot and Ankle division that was used for seeing patients through telemedicine. Also included in this is previsit preparation and follow-up recommendations. Press Ganey surveys were retrospectively reviewed to understand patient experience with telemedicine. Results: 85.2% of patients surveyed responded with scores indicating excellent care. When comparing patients who were seen in-office and through telemedicine, 89.2% and 83.4% responded with scores indicating excellent care, respectively (P =.37). Conclusion: Telemedicine offers an effective and convenient way to provide excellent musculoskeletal care to patients affected with foot and ankle pathology. This is the first study that evaluated a comprehensive protocol for telemedicine encounters and can be used to implement telemedicine by others using this approach. Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion.