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Published on: November 7, 2020
Strategies to maximize clinical efficiency while maintaining patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic: an
Kaitlyn M Yim1, Rebecca M Yim2, Sara Gaspard1
1Department of Dermatology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Background:
Many dermatologists have experienced significant changes to their practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objective:
It is vital to recognize how the pandemic has affected dermatology practices and identify methods to maximize clinical efficiency while maintaining patient safety.
Methods:
Private practice dermatologists in metropolitan areas were interviewed regarding various issues, including patient volume, types of visits or procedures being performed, screening for COVID-19, and operational modifications.
Results:
On average, there was a 65.2% decrease in patient volume during the initial surge of the COVID-19 outbreak, which was improved to a 15.5% decrease in July 2020. Despite this reduction in patient volume, the proportion of acute dermatologic issues, biopsies performed, and skin cancer concerns were all increased compared to pre-COVID. All of the dermatologists reported notable changes in regards to scheduling, staff, operations, and workplaces.
Limitations:
Interview participants were limited to metropolitan dermatologists mainly within the California region.
Conclusion:
Improving patient communication, implementing protocols to facilitate social distancing, and utilizing teledermatology were reported to be essential to optimizing efficiency and safety. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is important that dermatologists identify specific ways to practice efficiently and effectively, while mitigating the spread of the virus.
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