Do Live-Stream Telemedicine Routine Follow-Up Appointments For Ponseti Treated Clubfoot Patients Compare Favourably With Face to Face Review?

Description

In this presentation, Christine Douglas, a pediatric extended scope physiotherapist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, discusses her involvement with the Ponseti service, which treats clubfoot deformities in infants. She highlights the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated a shift to telemedicine for follow-up appointments, using the NHS Attend Anywhere platform to maintain connection with families. Douglas evaluates a retrospective study comparing telemedicine to face-to-face consultations over key clinical indicators, revealing no significant differences in compliance or relapse of deformity between the two modes of care. She notes that telemedicine allowed for effective treatment and support, with parents reporting similar satisfaction levels and compliance. The findings suggest that telemedicine can be an effective part of routine follow-up care, particularly for families seeking to minimize travel time. Douglas concludes by acknowledging that while telemedicine has its merits, future usage will align with patient preference to enhance the overall care experience.

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