Open AccessThe Impact of the Off-site Monitoring Clinic (Virtual Monitoring Clinic) on the Practice of Outpatient Rheumatology in a Tertiary Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
LiChing Chew,
Seng-Jin Yeo,
Julian Thumboo
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
annals, academy of medicine, singapore/annals of the academy of medicine, singapore
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.299
H-Index - 60
ISSN - 0304-4602
DOI - 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020222
Subject(s) - medicine , pandemic , telemedicine , context (archaeology) , rheumatology , health care , medical emergency , covid-19 , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , disease , paleontology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , biology , economic growth
The ongoing pandemic in Singapore is part of a global pandemic caused by the novelsevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). To control the spreadof COVID-19 and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed, ‘circuitbreaker’ measures were introduced between 7 April and 1 June 2020 in Singapore.There is thus a crucial need for innovative approaches to the provision and deliveryof healthcare in the context of safe-distancing by harnessing telemedicine, especiallyfor patients with chronic diseases who have traditionally been managed in tertiaryinstitutions. We present a summary of how the Virtual Monitoring Clinic has benefitedthe practice of our outpatient rheumatology service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thevirtual consultations address the need for safe-distancing by limiting face-to-faceappointments and unnecessary exposure of patients to the hospital where feasible.This approach ensures that the patients are monitored appropriately for drug toxicities andside-effects, maintained on good disease control, and provided with patient education.Keywords: Chronic rheumatic diseases, health services, medication delivery service,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, telemedicine