Open AccessTelemedicine Algorithm for the Management of Dizzy Patients
Author(s) -
Chari Divya A.,
Wu Matthew J.,
Crowson Matthew G.,
Kozin Elliott D.,
Rauch Steven D.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
otolaryngology–head and neck surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.232
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1097-6817
pISSN - 0194-5998
DOI - 10.1177/0194599820935859
Subject(s) - telemedicine , pandemic , medicine , medical emergency , otorhinolaryngology , health care , covid-19 , suspect , surgery , pathology , disease , political science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , economics , economic growth
As a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic, telemedicine has been thrust to the forefront of health care. Despite its inherent limitations, telemedicine offers many advantages to both patient and physician as an alternative to in‐person evaluation of select patients. In the near term, telemedicine allows nonpandemic care to proceed while observing appropriate public health concerns to minimize the spread of pandemic pathogens. Thus, it behooves practitioners to use telemedicine consultations for common otolaryngology complaints. Assessment of the dizzy patient is well‐suited to an algorithmic approach that can be adapted to a telemedicine setting. As best practices for telemedicine have yet to be defined, we present herein a practical approach to the history and limited physical examination of the dizzy patient in the telemedicine setting for the general otolaryngologist. Indeed, once the acute crisis has abated, we suspect that this approach will continue to be an effective way to manage dizzy patients.