Liu Ka-Po Gabriel, Tan Wei Loong Barry, Yip Wei Luen James, Tan Jun-Hao, Wong Hee-Kit
University Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre, Singapore.
Asian Spine J. 2021 Apr;15(2):164-171. doi: 10.31616/asj.2020.0508. Epub 2021 Mar 17.
An original article describing a comprehensive methodology for making a traditional spine surgery clinic telemedicineready in terms of logistical considerations and workflow.
The aim of this study is to promote the use of telemedicine via videoconferencing to reduce human exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and reduce the risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission at outpatient clinics.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest healthcare crisis in the 21st century. Until a vaccine is developed or herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is achieved, social distancing to avoid crowding is an important strategy to reduce disease transmission and resurgence. Telemedicine has already been applied in the field of orthopedics with encouraging results.
We reviewed the evidence behind telemedicine and described our clinical protocol, patient selection criteria, and workflow for telemedicine. We discussed a simple methodology to convert pre-existing traditional clinic resources into telemedicine tools, along with future challenges.
Our methodology was successfully and easily applied in our clinical practice, with a streamlined workflow allowing our spine surgery service to implement telemedicine as a consultation modality in line with the national recommendations of social distancing.
Telemedicine was well incorporated into our outpatient practice using the above workflow. We believe that the use of telemedicine via videoconferencing can become part of the new normal and a safe strategy for healthcare systems as both a medical and an economic countermeasure against COVID-19.
一篇原创文章，描述了从后勤考虑和工作流程方面使传统脊柱外科诊所具备远程医疗条件的综合方法。
本研究的目的是促进通过视频会议使用远程医疗，以减少人类接触严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）的机会，并降低门诊诊所2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）传播的风险。
COVID-19大流行是21世纪最大的医疗危机。在研发出疫苗或实现对SARS-CoV-2的群体免疫之前，保持社交距离以避免人群聚集是减少疾病传播和复发的重要策略。远程医疗已在骨科领域得到应用，取得了令人鼓舞的成果。
我们回顾了远程医疗背后的证据，并描述了我们的临床方案、患者选择标准和远程医疗工作流程。我们讨论了一种将现有的传统诊所资源转化为远程医疗工具的简单方法，以及未来面临的挑战。
我们的方法在临床实践中成功且轻松地得到应用，简化的工作流程使我们的脊柱外科服务能够按照国家社交距离建议将远程医疗作为一种会诊方式来实施。
通过上述工作流程，远程医疗已很好地融入我们的门诊实践。我们认为，通过视频会议使用远程医疗可以成为新常态的一部分，并且作为针对COVID-19的医疗和经济对策，对于医疗系统而言是一种安全策略。
