Teleconsultation in respiratory medicine – A position paper of the Portuguese Pulmonology Society
A. Morais,
A. Bugalho,
M. Drummond,
A.J. Ferreira,
A.S. Oliveira,
S. Sousa,
J.C. Winck,
J. Cardoso
Affiliations
A. Morais
Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto 4200-319, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Corresponding author at: Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto 4200-319, Portugal.
A. Bugalho
Pulmonology Department, Hospital CUF-Tejo, Lisboa, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Nova University Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
M. Drummond
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Centro de Responsabilidade Integrada de Sono e VNI, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
A.J. Ferreira
Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
A.S. Oliveira
Pulmonology Department, Hospital Pulido Valente, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
S. Sousa
Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar de Setúbal, Setúbal, Portugal
J.C. Winck
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Pulmonology Department, Hospital Privado de Alfena, Alfena, Portugal
J. Cardoso
NOVA Medical School, Nova University Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal; Pulmonology Department, Hospital de Santa Marta, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisboa, Portugal
The COVID-19 pandemic crisis, among so many social, economic and health problems, also brought new opportunities. The potential of telemedicine to improve health outcomes had already been recognised in the last decades, but the pandemic crisis has accelerated the digital revolution. In 2020, a rapid increase in the use of remote consultations occurred due to the need to reduce attendance and overcrowding in outpatient clinics. However, the benefit of their use extends beyond the pandemic crisis, as an important tool to improve both the efficiency and capacity of future healthcare systems. This article reviews the literature regarding telemedicine and teleconsultation standards and recommendations, collects opinions of Portuguese experts in respiratory medicine and provides guidance in teleconsultation practices for Pulmonologists.
