Optimizing your telemedicine visit during the COVID-19 pandemic: Practice guidelines for patients with head and neck cancer

Head Neck. 2020 Jun;42(6):1317-1321. doi: 10.1002/hed.26197. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Abstract

The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in many hospitals and practices to cancel in-person outpatient clinic visits, where head and neck patients receive their critical longitudinal care. Out of necessity, most practices have been encouraged to use telemedicine as a method to maintain a continuum of care with their patients. As a result, the prevalence of telemedicine has grown rapidly during this pandemic, without allowing the physicians and patients to be adequately educated on how best to utilize the services. There is a steep learning curve as we have learned, and our goal is to provide guidelines for both patients and physicians, as well as a valuable patient handout in preparation for their visit.

Keywords: COVID-19; cancer; patient care; telehealth; telemedicine.

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care*
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Office Visits
  • Otolaryngology*
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Physical Examination
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Telemedicine*