Virtual Spine Surgery Consults Proven Effective
Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
As the coronavirus continues to make its presence felt in Minnesota and across the United States, more physicians are adapting to ensure they can still see patients in a safe manner. We’ve increased our sanitation efforts and worked to limit contact between patients in our waiting rooms, but we’ve also added virtual consultations as a way to see patients face to face from a safe distance.
You may be on the fence about the efficacy of these virtual consultations, but we do everything in our power to ensure our patients receive the same level of service as they do when they are in-clinic. And according to a recent study, the vast majority of spine surgery patients are receiving that same level of care.
Spine Care Virtual Visits
Although spine surgery cannot be performed through a telemedicine appointment, a pre-surgical consultation can. And while many people would prefer to have their pre-operative visit in person, it would be nice to know that a virtual visit can be just as effective in planning the operation. A recent study put that theory to the test.
For the study, researchers examined the medical records of 33 patients indicated for a spine surgery during a virtual visit. A preoperative surgical plan was made, but instead of having the operation take place on the next visit, these patients also underwent an in-person exam. What researchers found was that in 31 of the 33 cases (94%), the initial surgical plans developed after the virtual visit did not change after the in-person appointment took place. In the two patients who had their surgical plans altered, an additional level was added to the already-planned multi-level spinal fusion procedure.
In other words, virtual visits were an efficient preoperative assessment tool for the vast majority of patients ahead of their spine surgery operation. We’re happy that these virtual visits can not only be a way for people to see a physician without increasing their risk of coming in contact with the coronavirus, but they can also be just as thorough and accurate as in-person examinations.
If you are interested in setting up a virtual visit with one of our offices, click here to be taken to our contact page. From there, you can find the clinic in question and give our office a call to set up your telehealth appointment. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know during this phone call so that you are ready to go when the time comes for your virtual appointment.
For more information, or to set up that appointment, head over to our contact page or give our clinic a call today at (651) 430-3800.
