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. 2020 Jun 1;28(11):e487-e492.
doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-00339.

Telehealth Utilization in Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in Orthopaedic Surgery

Robert L Parisien  1 , Max Shin, Michael Constant, Bryan M Saltzman, Xinning Li, William N Levine, David P Trofa
Affiliations

Telehealth Utilization in Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in Orthopaedic Surgery

Robert L Parisien et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. .

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this investigation is to assess the current utilization of telehealth capabilities at academic orthopaedic departments in the United States and to determine how practice patterns have been directly influenced by the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: Orthopaedic surgery programs participating in the Electronic Residency Application Service were identified. One hundred seventy-five (175) programs were presented with a seven-item questionnaire addressing whether each program is using telehealth services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Of the 175 Electronic Residency Application Service participant orthopaedic programs, 168 responded for a total response rate of 96%. Of the 106 institutions using telehealth services, 88 (83%) cited the COVID-19 pandemic as the impetus for implementation of telehealth services. Institutions located in the Northeast and South regions were markedly more likely to offer telehealth services. Heat map analysis demonstrates an associative overlap of regional "hot spots" with direct comparison of COVID-19 cases in the United States and orthopaedic departments providing telehealth services.

Discussion: This study demonstrates the impressive measures academic orthopaedic institutions are taking to meet the needs of our patients by identifying a notable increase in new telehealth offerings throughout the United States with a positive correlation with COVID-19 disease burden.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Li or an immediate family member serves as a paid consultant to FH Ortho. Dr. Levine or an immediate family member serves as an unpaid consultant to Zimmer Biomet and serves as a board member, owner, officer, or committee member of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. None of the following authors or any immediate family member has received anything of value from or has stock or stock options held in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Dr. Parisien, Shin, Constant, Dr. Saltzman, and Dr. Trofa.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chart showing the number of coronavirus disease 19 cases in the United States as of March 26, 2020.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chart showing the number of orthopaedic departments providing telehealth services as of March 26, 2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. References printed in bold type are those published within the past 5 years.

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