Ensuring Primary Care Diagnostic Quality in the Era of Telemedicine

Telemedicine applications have been used for decades, most commonly in specific areas of medicine (eg, dermatology, pathology, radiology) and in specific contexts (eg, rural or other under-resourced areas). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has markedly accelerated the expansion of the telemedicine platform, especially video visits, for primary care clinicians and practices relatively unfamiliar with its use. Although telemedicine usage may be receding from its peak pandemic rollout, clinicians will likely continue to employ these video visits for patient care. Within this context of new and widespread ongoing use, critical evaluation of telemedicine’s benefits and harms related to diagnosis is necessary and linked to efforts to minimize potential diagnostic errors and to establish best clinical practices.
 

Read More