[Telehealth in peroperative medicine]

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Medical Informatics
• Health Services Research

Context:

• Telemedicine is a growing field, prioritized by the WHO for addressing healthcare costs and accessibility.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted telemedicine's crucial role in maintaining care continuity during crises.
• Telehealth applications are expanding across the entire perioperative period in anesthesiology.

Purpose:

• To review recent literature on the application of telemedicine in anaesthetic preoperative assessments.
• To discuss the eligibility, feasibility, and effectiveness of remote preoperative evaluations.
• To analyze patient satisfaction and the potential economic implications of telehealth in this setting.

Summary:

• This review examines the use of telemedicine for anaesthetic preoperative assessments, covering its suitability and practical implementation.
• Effectiveness is evaluated based on consultation time, surgical cancellation rates, and physical examination concordance.
• Patient satisfaction and the economic impact of telemedicine in preoperative anesthesia care are also assessed.

Impact:

• Telemedicine offers a viable and potentially cost-effective solution for preoperative anesthesia evaluations.
• It can improve patient access to care and streamline the surgical process.
• Findings support the integration of telehealth into routine perioperative workflows to enhance efficiency and patient experience.