Conclusion:
The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the United States has led to overburdening of the healthcare system and a cancellation of many in-person patient visits. As a result, many practices have been turning to telemedicine as an avenue for continued care for patients while minimizing mutual risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. This approach, while extremely useful, can be challenging for both the physician and patient, particularly as this is a new mode of clinical evaluation for both parties. Head and neck cancer surveillance is often challenging to perform in person, and doing this virtually without being able to educate patients on expectations can make the task even more difficult. In order to mitigate many of these issues, we have provided a set of guidelines for implementation of telehealth visits. We additionally provide an easy-to-read handout which can be widely distributed to patients to assist them in preparing for a virtual visit. Our hope is that this can maximize the utility gained from telehealth visits for both the physician and patient in the era of COVID-19 and beyond.
Full author listAman Prasad, BS1, Ryan Brewster, BA2, Jason G. Newman, MD3, Karthik Rajasekaran, MD3