Volume 25, Issue 115, September 2021

Analysis of telemedicine as a healthcare service adjunct during extended lockdown at a tertiary health care center of eastern India

Sanjay Yadav^1♦, Abhinav Anand Jha², Raghul Dhakshanamoorthy³, Anukritika Prasai⁴, Rahul Verma⁵, Neeraj Kumar Agrawal⁶

¹Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Medical Sciences -Banaras Hindu University, India
²Junior Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Medical Sciences -Banaras Hindu University, India
³Senior Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Medical Sciences -Banaras Hindu University, India
⁴Research Scholar, Department of Psychology, Institute of Medical Sciences -Banaras Hindu University, India
⁵Junior Resident, Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Medical Sciences -Banaras Hindu University, India
⁶Professor In-charge, Regional Telemedicine centre, Institute of Medical Sciences –Banaras Hindu University, India

^♦Corresponding author
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopedics, Institute of Medical Sciences -Banaras Hindu University, India

ABSTRACT

Introduction: After the recent outbreak of SARS COV2 worldwide, the governments decided to implement a lockdown to restrict or contain the spread of the contagion. Telemedicine has evolved as an adjunct/ supportive service to patients from far-off places in these troubled times. Methodology: A dedicated number was provided to the orthopedics department. On regular OPD, a telemedicine facility was provided from 9 am to 5 pm. On other days, the concerned duty team number was used. Patients were allowed to interact from 9 am to 11 am and 6 pm to 8 pm. Observation and Results: The study was conducted from March 2020 to May 2020. A total of 57 patients were given consultations through the telemedicine department out of which 41 were males, and 16 were females. Nearly 33 patients had grade 1, 16 patients had grade 2, and eight patients had grade 3 satisfaction levels. Conclusion: It is difficult to replace traditional consultation methods. However, telemedicine facilities may serve as useful supportive services to the existing facilities for outpatients and triage.

Keywords: Telemedicine, Patient satisfaction, Surgeon’s contribution.

Medical Science, 2021, 25(115), 2109-2113

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