Telemedicine in Urology: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Heading?

Abstract

Context: Humanity is facing significant challenges, and in 2019, a new coronavirus caused an unprecedented global disease outbreak. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic vastly impacted health care delivery, generating devastating economic, social, and public health disruption. Although previously underutilized, it was not until recently that telemedicine emerged and amassed tremendous popularity. Objective: To examine and assess telemedicine's past, present, and future roles in urology. Evidence acquisition: We queried relevant literature investigating the role of telemedicine in urology using the electronic PubMed database and mainly focused on English-language studies of any design. Evidence synthesis: Growing attention has been paid to the widespread adoption of novel telehealth technologies for managing various diseases. Meanwhile, solid evidence supports the meaningful use of telemedicine for most urological diagnoses. Existing literature delineates telemedicine as a viable, safe, and convenient alternative to in-person clinical visits. Conclusions: The present article overviews the evolution of telemedicine in urology, and discusses its application in outpatient and physician’s office settings. In addition, it highlights the technical, legal, ethical, and financial aspects of telemedicine while providing valuable insights and practical considerations for the future of telehealth in urology. Patient summary: Urologists must adopt telemedicine carefully in daily practice, always adhering to predefined regulatory frameworks.

Keywords

• Telemedicine
• Telehealth
• Telementoring
• Telesurgery
• Urology