Pilot Survey of Adoption of Telemedicine in Mohs Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 Pandemic prompted the widespread implementation of telemedicine across healthcare. OBJECTIVE: To analyze telemedicine adoption by Mohs Micrographic surgeons (MMS) during the COVID-19 pandemic; to analyze the attitudes and perceived barriers to its long-term continuation by MMS practices. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An online multiple-choice survey was distributed to members of the American College of Mohs Surgeons. RESULTS: 86.1% of surveyed Mohs surgeons initiated telemedicine during the pandemic surge. The most common uses for telemedicine amongst respondents were post-surgery management (77.4%), "spot checks" (60.9%), and surgical consultations (59.1%). 73.1% report patients were receptive to telemedicine. 68.6% believe that telemedicine has a place in dermatologic surgery; 49.5% plan to incorporate telemedicine into their surgical practices long-term. Physical exam limitations, fitting telemedicine into practice workflow, and patient reception/patient training were viewed as the most significant barriers to long-term implementation. CONCLUSIONS: While valuable use cases for telemedicine were identified with most Mohs surgeon respondents feeling that telemedicine has a place in their practices, there is uncertainty in how to implement telemedicine into the dermatologic surgery practice workflow.

publication date

  • February 1, 2022

Research

keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Dermatology
  • Mohs Surgery
  • Telemedicine

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85124056191

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1097/DSS.0000000000003352

PubMed ID

  • 34923531

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 48

issue

  • 2