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Assessment of a novel ophthalmology tele-triage system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Source :
- BMC Ophthalmology; 9/24/2021, Vol. 21 Issue 1, p1-9, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a web-based tele-triage system was created to prioritize in-person clinic visits and ensure safety at the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences during a statewide shelter-in-place order. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the tele-triage system on urgent visit volume and explore the characteristics of acute visit requests at a tertiary referral eye center.<bold>Methods: </bold>This retrospective study analyzed acute visit requests between April 6, 2020 and June 6, 2020. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, ANOVA, and bivariate logistic regression were used to compare variables with a p-value of 0.05.<bold>Results: </bold>Three hundred fifty-eight surveys were completed. Mean age was 49.7 ± 18.8 years (range 2-91). The majority of requests were determined as urgent (63.0%) or emergent (0.8%). Forty-nine patients had recent eye trauma (13.7%), and the most common reported symptoms were new onset eye pain (25.7%) and photophobia (22.9%). Most patients were self-referred (63.7%), though provider referral was more common in patients with symptoms of new onset lid swelling (p < 0.01), diplopia (p < 0.01), flashing lights (p = 0.02), or droopy eyelid (p < 0.01). Patients presenting with symptom onset within 48 h tended to be younger (45.8 years) versus those with symptom duration of 48 h to 1 week (49.6 years), or more than 1 week (52.6 years; p < 0.01).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>This novel tele-triage system screened out one-third of acute visit requests as non-urgent, which limited in-person visits during the initial shelter-in-place period of the pandemic. Tele-triage systems should be implemented in eye care practices for future emergency preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- COVID-19 pandemic
EYE pain
OCULAR injuries
STAY-at-home orders
EYE care
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712415
- Volume :
- 21
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Ophthalmology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 152623585
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-021-02112-0