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Telephone clinic outcomes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: results from an ENT department

Part of: JLO Coronavirus Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 September 2021

S Mallick ,
R Balakumar  and
A Drysdale
S Mallick*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK
R Balakumar
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK
A Drysdale
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Sohaib Mallick, ENT Secretaries, Musgrove Park Hospital, Parkfield Drive, TauntonTA1 5DA, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective

To study the impact of telemedicine on patient outcomes during a nationwide lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted to examine telemedicine consultations of newly referred patients over 7 days during a national lockdown. Overall outcomes of telephone clinics were recorded, measured as either patient discharged, imaging requested, patient referred to another specialty, further telephone follow up required, patient initiated follow up or face-to-face appointment required.

Results

Data were collected from 104 patients. Outcomes showed that 17 patients were discharged, 15 had imaging requested, 11 were referred to another specialty, 11 had further telemedicine appointments, 31 had patient-initiated follow up and 19 received face-to-face appointments. Overall, 57 per cent of patients avoided hospital visits and 17 per cent required face-to-face appointments. Of higher risk patients, 49 per cent were managed remotely. After eight months, no significant morbidity or mortality was reported.

Conclusion

Almost half of the higher risk patients avoided a hospital visit. The majority of patients were managed remotely, and thus the risk and spread of infection were reduced. Telemedicine has an important role in ENT out-patients.

Keywords

COVID-19TelemedicineOutpatientsRetrospective Studies
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 136 , Issue 7 , July 2022 , pp. 611 - 614
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Dr S Mallick takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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