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. 2020 Aug:216:237-242.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2020.04.029. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Virtual Ophthalmology: Telemedicine in a COVID-19 Era

Sophia Mirza Saleem  1 , Louis R Pasquale  2 , Paul A Sidoti  2 , James C Tsai  2
Affiliations

Virtual Ophthalmology: Telemedicine in a COVID-19 Era

Sophia Mirza Saleem et al. Am J Ophthalmol. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To discuss the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 betacoronavirus on ambulatory ophthalmology practices, the value proposition of telemedicine, teleophthalmology implementation methodologies, and the accelerated future of telemedicine.

Design: Review of the current telehealth landscape including usage, policies, and techniques for ambulatory practice integration.

Methods: We provide author-initiated review of recent trends in telehealth, governmental recommendations for health care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a PubMed Central query for telemedicine in ophthalmology or teleophthalmology. In addition, the authors' comprehensive experience in telemedicine design and implementation is provided.

Results: We provide a summary describing the present state of telehealth, teleophthalmology modeling, care delivery, and the proposed impact of telehealth surges on the future of ophthalmology practice.

Conclusion: Recent patient and provider interest in telemedicine, the relaxation of regulatory restrictions, increased remote care reimbursement, and ongoing social distancing practices compel many ophthalmologists to consider virtualizing services.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
A workflow diagram that maps the ophthalmology telehealth visit cycle is depicted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Truex G. As telehealth technology and methodologies mature, consumer adoption emerges as key challenge for providers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez1DvKAlULU Available at:
    1. Forbes.com The coronavirus has created a surge of telemedicine demand. GoodRx now lets consumers compare services. https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2020/03/26/the-coronavirus-ha... Available at:

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