Call and consult as COVID knocks again: Lessons learnt from clinician-initiated telephonic follow-up for continuity of geriatric mental health care.

Background: Telepsychiatry has grown exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic. As regular outpatient services were shut down, we initiated a telephonic follow-up consultation for geropsychiatry patients who have had their first face-to-face consultation up to 2 months before the pandemic-induced lockdown with the intent to maintain the continuity of care. Methods: In this background, we are reporting our experience of this unique initiative, in terms of acceptance of service, status of patients, adherence to treatment, and barriers to care. Results: We could contact 120 patients, among whom 8 patients had died at the time of the call. Consent for tele follow-up was given by 108 patients, whose mean age was 68.76 ± 7.22 years. Sixteen patients needed urgent referrals for face-to-face consultation. Medical comorbidities were present in 56.48% of the patients. Adherence was good in 60.78% and 93.44% for psychotropic and nonpsychotropic medications, respectively. Unavailability of psychiatric consultation as well as psychotropic medicines in the locality along with lack of awareness were the major reasons for poor adherence. Clinician-initiated teleconsultation was opted as the preferred mode for the next consultation by 70.37% of patients. Conclusion: Clinician-initiated telephonic follow-up was well received. This initiative has uncovered hurdles to care and unmet needs of geropsychiatry patients in such unprecedented situation and would help in improving the preparedness in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]