Telemedicine in allergology: practical aspects

Abstract

Since spring 2020, the wide-ranging contact restriction measures in the context of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have also led to a reduction in physician–patient contacts in the ambulatory care setting. Telemedicine applications will increasingly provide a way to efficiently deliver patient care under infection control measures. In allergology, telemedical as well as digital applications can also significantly facilitate everyday clinical practice. However, the technical and legal hurdles associated with the implementation of digital strategies must be overcome for this to happen. The aim of this article is to provide an intuitive overview of the aspects to be considered in the implementation of telemedicine consultations and to highlight the current state of the framework as well as optimization possibilities and perspectives in allergology. If a structured use is guaranteed, digital and telemedical applications can improve patient care—also in allergology. There is potential to be exploited in many areas, from the remote collection of clinical history, and video consultations, to the discussion of diagnostic findings, disease monitoring, and therapy support. The use of telemedical applications, especially video consultations, has experienced a remarkable acceleration in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present overview of the legal, technical and professional framework is intended to support the anchoring of digital and telemedical technologies in everyday allergology. However, in order to consolidate these in the future, an agreement is needed regarding professional standards of action as well as a remuneration structure that is permanently defined beyond the current pandemic.

Recommendations for use of topical inhalant budesonide in COVID-19

“…Effective measures to contain the pandemic, on the other hand, are restrictions on social life, especially to protect vulnerable patient groups and to maintain a functioning healthcare system. In agreement with the German Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the World Health Organization (WHO), we recommend preventive measures in the current pandemic situation, such as [22][23][24][25]: -Keeping a distance of at least 1. For this article no studies with human participants or animals were performed by any of the authors.…”

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“…90 This need led to an increase in remote healthcare utilization, particularly for synchronous video consultations (Figure 4). 91 Even before 2020, telemedicine has been under evaluation as a useful tool to provide health care for rural and underserved areas. [92][93][94] While several studies focused on the quality of remote visits and their economic benefits, 92,[95][96][97] new opportunities arose in the light of the climate crisis.…”

“…Given the variety of benefits, a healthcare provider may decide to implement routine remote clinical consultations. 91,100 To this end, some conceptional considerations are needed. As mentioned above, the suitability of settings and patients for remote visits should be evaluated.…”

The impact of COVID-19 on the development and consolidation of telemedicine

“…In relation to different specialties, a profusion of articles has been published, analyzing specific matters such as adaptation of telemedicine for use in different fields like dermatology, 6 neurosurgery, 7 cardiology 8 and allergology, 9 among others. Almost all of them come to similar conclusions: that telemedicine has become an important tool during the period of the pandemic and that its development should continue after the pandemic.…”