Global Survey on Telemedicine Utilization for Movement Disorders During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Issue 10 (17th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hassan, Anhar; Mari, Zoltan; Gatto, Emilia M.; Cardozo, Adriana; Youn, Jinyoung; Okubadejo, Njideka; Bajwa, Jawad A.; Shalash, Ali; Fujioka, Shinsuke; Aldaajani, Zakiyah; Cubo, Esther
• Other Names: Adams Jamie investigator.; Afshari Mitra investigator.; Aldaajani Zakiyah investigator.; Aldred Jason investigator.; Bajwa Jawad A. investigator.; Ben‐Pazi Hilla investigator.; Bloem Bastiaan investigator.; Browne Patrick investigator.; Buesing Ken investigator.; Cardozo Adriana investigator.; Chan Bill investigator.; Chouinard Sylvain investigator.; Cubo Esther investigator.; Doumbe Jacques investigator.; Dekker Mariekke investigator.; Fujioka Shinsuke investigator.; Galifianakis Nicholas investigator.; Gatto Emilia investigator.; Goetz Christopher investigator.; Guttman Mark investigator.; Hassan Anhar investigator.; Hatcher‐Martin Jaime investigator.; Katz Maya investigator.; Mari Zoltan investigator.; Moukheiber Emile investigator.; Ojo Oluwadamilola investigator.; Okubadejo Njideka investigator.; Pantelyat Alexander investigator.; Prakash Neha investigator.; Shalash Ali investigator.; Spindler Meredith investigator.; Tanner Caroline investigator.; Youn Jinyoung investigator.;
• Is Part Of: Movement disorders. Volume 35:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1701
• Page End: 1711
• Publication Date: 2020-10-17
• Subjects: coronavirus -- telehealth -- technology -- legislation -- reimbursement -- license; Movement disorders -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.28284
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3185

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic restricted usual healthcare management for movement‐disorders patients, with a consequent upsurge in telemedicine to bridge the gap. Objective: To assess global telemedicine usage in the context of the pandemic. Methods: The Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Telemedicine Study Group surveyed telemedicine experts from 40 countries across all continents in March–April 2020. Four domains of telemedicine were assessed: legal regulations, reimbursement, clinical use, and barriers; comparing emerging responses to the pandemic versus the baseline scenario. Results: All forms of telemedicine for movement disorders increased globally, irrespective of country income categorization, as an immediate response to the pandemic. This was aided by widespread availability of technology and updated government regulations. However, privacy concerns, lack of reimbursement, limited access, and lack of telemedicine training were barriers highlighted worldwide. Conclusions: Questions remain about the longevity and extent of changes in regulations and reimbursement regarding telemedicine in the aftermath of the pandemic. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society