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Epidemiological Survey of the Impact of COVID-19 on Telemedicine in the Practice
of Foot and Ankle Surgery in the United States
#MMPMID33518507
Neville K
; Black AT
; Fridman R
J Foot Ankle Surg
2021[May]; 60
(3
): 455-460
PMID33518507
show ga
In response to loosened telehealth regulations and local restrictions on elective
procedures during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, telemedicine
use has dramatically increased. The goal of this study was to analyze patterns in
telemedicine use among podiatric physicians during the COVID-19 crisis on a
national level. Anonymous responses to a survey of practice metrics as well as
subjective impressions of telemedicine efficacy were collected from 246
respondents, representing >1% of practicing podiatrists in the United States.
Linear regression was performed to identify variables associated with COVID-19
prevalence and variables associated with higher self-reported likelihood of
offering telemedicine visits post-COVID-19. Physicians in areas of lower COVID-19
prevalence were found to dispense durable medical equipment more frequently
in-office and conduct more post-op telemedicine visits, with fewer visits for
infections and trauma. Podiatrists in these regions also rated telemedicine more
effective for medical and musculoskeletal pathologies. Additionally, fewer of
their practices had modified office hours, and more of them advertised
telemedicine services. Physicians more likely to offer telemedicine post-COVID-19
had significantly higher new patient volume and increased acuity of cases, with
patient admission to the hospital after telemedicine visits. These physicians
ranked the effectiveness of telemedicine more highly for every pathology
surveyed. Of note, American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons region and years
in clinical practice were not statistically associated with likelihood of
offering telemedicine visits post-COVID-19. This study represents the first
systematic national assessment of telemedicine use in podiatry and highlights
clinically relevant changes in practice and perception of telemedicine in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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