Effectiveness of Telephone Monitoring in Primary Care to Detect Pneumonia and Associated Risk Factors in Patients with SARS-CoV-2

Improved technology facilitates the acceptance of telemedicine. The aim was to analyze the effectiveness of telephone follow-up to detect severe SARS-CoV-2 cases that progressed to pneumonia. A prospective cohort study with 2-week telephone follow-up was carried out March 1 to May 4, 2020, in a primary healthcare center in Barcelona. Individuals aged ≥15 years with symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 were included. Outpatients with non-severe disease were called on days 2, 4, 7, 10 and 14 after diagnosis; patients with risk factors for pneumonia received daily calls through day 5 and then the regularly scheduled calls. Patients hospitalized due to pneumonia received calls on days 1, 3, 7 and 14 post-discharge. Of the 453 included patients, 435 (96%) were first attended to at a primary healthcare center. The 14-day follow-up was completed in 430 patients (99%), with 1798 calls performed. Of the 99 cases of pneumonia detected (incidence rate 20.8%), one-third appeared 7 to 10 days after onset of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms. Ten deaths due to pneumonia were recorded. Telephone follow-up by a primary healthcare center was effective to detect SARS-CoV-2 pneumonias and to monitor related complications. Thus, telephone appointments between a patient and their health care practitioner benefit both health outcomes and convenience.

Impact of telephone monitoring on cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy and gastrectomy

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate telephone monitoring for symptoms, quality of life, distress, admissions to the emergency center and the satisfaction of cancer patients undergoing esophagectomy and gastrectomy. Method: Randomized controlled study in two groups, carried out at the Cancer Institute of the State of Sao Paulo; the intervention group received telephone monitoring for four moments after the surgery, while the control group received only institutional care. Results: Of the 81 patients evaluated, the domain most affected by quality of life was social relationships domain. Distress had no significant difference between groups and moments. In both groups, admissions to the emergency center were similar (p=0.539). Pain was the most reported symptom in telephone monitoring. There was statistical significance regarding patient satisfaction with monitoring (p=0.002). Conclusion: Telephone monitoring provided greater patient satisfaction in the intervention group, demonstrating the real impact of this process on the care of cancer patients.

Monitoramento telefônico de dois casos de infecção pelo novo Coronavírus: relato de experiência / Telephone monitoring on two cases of infection by the new Coronavirus: experience report

Objetivo: apresentar as experiências de duas enfermeiras sobre o monitoramento telefônico de dois casos de infecção por coronavírus na região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Método: relato de experiência de duas enfermeiras atuantes na Estratégia de Saúde da Família nos meses de maio e julho de 2020. Resultados: o primeiro caso se trata do monitoramento da família de um homem, proveniente de outro Estado, que foi a óbito. O segundo caso se refere a uma gestante que evoluiu para internação hospitalar por agravo de sintomas, após três dias do resultado positivo do exame. No início desse processo o sentimento era de confusão, afinal tratava-se de uma doença aguda, agressiva e desconhecida. Por vezes, o sentimento de solidão verbalizado pelos monitorados afetou os profissionais. Conclusões: emergiram das experiências, aspectos sobre isolamento e exclusão social das pessoas contaminadas, além de insegurança, medo e sobrecarga, por parte dos profissionais.

Terapia Ocupacional e vigilância epidemiológica: monitoramento telefônico de pacientes confirmados com COVID-19 / Occupational Therapy and epidemiological surveillance: telephone monitoring of covid-19 confirmed patients

O artigo refere-se à atuação de dois terapeutas ocupacionais no departamento de vigilância epidemiológica de uma Secretaria Municipal de Saúde no Estado do Pará, durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Mediante ao contexto, instalou-se o monitoramento telefônico para atendimento à distância dos pacientes que testaram positivo para a COVID-19. Os terapeutas ocupacionais utilizaram tecnologia telefônica como recurso de cuidado visando a promoção e recuperação de saúde.Palavras-chave: Terapia Ocupacional, I nfecções por Coronavírus, Consulta Remota, Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) Interinstitutional Brazilian Journal of Occupational Therapy Artigo originalAbstract : The follow ing article explores the actuation of tw o occupational therapists in the epidemiological surveillance department of a Municipal Health Secretary in the State of Pará, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon this scenario, the Secretary installed a telephonic monitoring system as a distance service strategy to confirmed COVID-19 cases, where the occupational therapists used telephonic technology as resource in health promotion and recuperation of the affected by the disease, exploring telehealth strategies. Thus, this study shows adaptation of Occupational Therapy framework during the pandemic, enabling these professional’s capacity to suit strategies to deal with different realities.Key Words: Occupational Therapy, Coronavirus I nfections, Remote Consultation, Unified Health SystemResumen: El artículo hace referencia al trabajo de dos terapeutas ocupacionales en el departamento de vigilancia epidemiologica de una Secretaría de Salud Municipal en el Estado de Pará, durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Através del contexto, se instaló un sistema de monitoreo telefónico para atender de forma remota los casos confirmados. Los terapeutas ocupacionales utilizaron la tecnología telefónica como recurso para promover y recuperar la salud de los afectados a través de la televigilancia. Así, fue evidenciada una forma de adaptar el trabajo de la Terapia Ocupacional frente a la pandemia, permitiendo a los profesionales adaptar estrategias frente a diferentes realidades.Palabrasclave: Terapia Ocupacional, I nfecciones por Coronavirus, Consulta Remota, Sistema Único de Salud

2019 Italian Society of Cardiology Census on telemedicine in cardiovascular disease: a report from the working group on telecardiology and informatics

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess by a census supported by the Italian Society of Cardiology (Società Italiana di Cardiologia, SIC) the present implementation of telemedicine in the field of cardiovascular disease in Italy.MethodsA dedicated questionnaire was sent by email to all the members of the SIC: data on telemedicine providers, service provided, reimbursement, funding and organisational solutions were collected and analysed.ResultsReported telemedicine activities were mostly stable and public hospital based, focused on acute cardiovascular disease and prehospital triage of suspected acute myocardial infarction (prehospital ECG, always interpreted by a cardiologist and not automatically reported by computerised algorithms). Private companies delivering telemedicine services in cardiology (ECGs, ambulatory ECG monitoring) were also present. In 16% of cases, ECGs were also delivered through pharmacies or general practitioners. ICD/CRT-D remote control was performed in 42% of cases, heart failure patient remote monitoring in 37% (21% vital parameters monitoring, 32% nurse telephone monitoring). Telemedicine service was public in 74% of cases, paid by the patient in 26%. About half of telemedicine service received no funding, 17% received State and/or European Union funding.ConclusionsSeveral telemedicine activities have been reported for the management of acute and chronic cardiovascular disease in Italy. The whole continuum of cardiovascular disease is covered by telemedicine solutions. A periodic census may be useful to assess the implementation of guidelines recommendations on telemedicine.