What is it about?
The rise of virtual medicine through the use of e-Health technology was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and remains a vital part of health care delivery today. Telehealth, a virtual health care delivery system through either electronic or telecommunication technology, may improve the ability to deliver care in resource poor areas or where barriers to access occur. Despite the obvious advantages to telehealth, the efficacy of virtual visits when compared to face-to-face health care interactions is a topic of much debate, especially with regards to areas of medicine which rely heavily on physical examination or demonstration of therapeutic exercises and movements. In this commentary, we review the efficacy of telehealth with a focus on prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain conditions, and explore areas for future research.
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Why is it important?
The spread of the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resulting COVID-19 pandemic has driven rapid change across the healthcare landscape. In response to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations regarding stay at home policies, in-person healthcare visits decreased precipitously, and virtual visits became the norm. As stay at home orders relaxed, healthcare provider organizations from self-employed practitioners to massive multi-center hospital conglomerates were faced with the challenge of reinstating contact, in a “new normal”, highly virtual world [1]. A unique set of benefits and disadvantages have surfaced in the wake of the widespread adoption of telehealth (the utilization of web- or broadcastbased communication platforms for the provision of healthcare services). For patients with substantial comorbidity burden and other preexisting conditions which complicate travel to in-person visits, telehealth can provide invaluable access to care. For individuals with hazard variables for contracting the still-prevalent COVID-19 virus, telehealth can help reduce transmission rates [2]. From a cost perspective, telehealth may reduce expenditure related to transportation and absence from work [3].
Perspectives
Rapidly accelerated by global lock-downs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is here to stay, has demonstrated efficacy across a limited body of evidence, and is associated with upfront cost savings. However, the use of telehealth is associated with certain challenges, especially in the setting of rehabilitative-type visits, such as those required for effective OT and PT. Future investigation is warranted to continue to assess the efficacy of telehealth.
Dr Ardalan Shariat
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The role of telehealth in the care of musculoskeletal pain conditions after COVID-19, Work, April 2023, IOS Press,
DOI: 10.3233/wor-220524.
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