Telemedicine technology has taken on new importance amid the shelter-in-place mandates and elective surgery restrictions of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. NYU Langone was prepared for the sudden growth in virtual visit volume because it has been fine-tuning its platform for years.

Kirk A. Campbell, MD, sports orthopedic surgeon and assistant professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, speaks to Becker’s Spine Review about how he and his colleagues adjusted to seeing patients through video visits using NYU Langone Health MyChart.

With quality assurance measures including providing patients with how-to and troubleshooting information in advance, Dr. Campbell has had successful video visits with patients ages 18 through 80. He can guide patients through self-examination and recreate what he does in the office before actually having the patient come in for treatment.

Dr. Campbell predicts telehealth will augment in-office visits even beyond the pandemic. “Over the last six weeks, patients have been able to have the care that they need at their fingertips, within the comforts of their homes, offices, or wherever they may be,” he says. “I think patients will demand continued access to telemedicine.”

Read more from Becker’s Spine Review.