Telemedicine Management of Musculoskeletal Issues

Area of Science:

• Family Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine for healthcare delivery.
• Telemedicine offers a viable alternative for providing cost-effective, quality patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a standardized approach for family physicians to evaluate and diagnose musculoskeletal issues via telemedicine.
• To guide the effective integration of telemedicine into musculoskeletal care.

Main Methods:

• Previsit planning to ensure appropriate telemedicine use and functional equipment.
• Detailed patient instructions on setting, camera angles, positioning, and attire for virtual visits.
• Utilizing common household items to replicate in-person examination maneuvers during virtual assessments.

Main Results:

• Physicians can obtain thorough patient histories and perform structured musculoskeletal examinations remotely.
• Home care instructions and online resources facilitate initial patient management.
• Telemedicine facilitates follow-up for improving conditions, with clear criteria for in-person or specialist referrals.

Conclusions:

• A standardized telemedicine approach enables effective musculoskeletal evaluation and diagnosis by family physicians.
• Telemedicine, when implemented with proper planning and execution, can enhance patient access to musculoskeletal care.
• Careful patient selection and follow-up protocols are crucial for optimizing telemedicine outcomes in musculoskeletal medicine.