RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 How telemedicine integrated into China’s anti-COVID-19 strategies: case from a National Referral Center
JF BMJ Health & Care Informatics
JO BMJ Health Care Inform
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e100164
DO 10.1136/bmjhci-2020-100164
VO 27
IS 3
A1 Peiyi Li
A1 Xiaoyu Liu
A1 Elizabeth Mason
A1 Guangyu Hu
A1 Yongzhao Zhou
A1 Weimin Li
A1 Mohammad S Jalali
YR 2020
UL http://informatics.bmj.com/content/27/3/e100164.abstract
AB Introduction We present the integration of telemedicine into the healthcare system of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (WCH), one of the largest hospitals in the world with 4300 inpatient beds, as a means for maximising the efficiency of healthcare delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods Implemented on 22 January 2020, the telemedicine technology allowed WCH providers to conduct teleconsultations, telerounds, teleradiology and tele-intensive care unit, which in culmination provided screening, triage and treatment for COVID-19 and other illnesses. To encourage its adoption, the government and the hospital publicised the platform on social media and waived fees.Discussion From 1 February to 1 April 2020, 10557 online COVID-19 consultations were conducted for 6662 individuals; meanwhile, 32676 patients without COVID completed virtual follow-ups. We discuss that high-quality, secure, affordable and user-friendly telemedical platforms should be integrated into global healthcare systems to help decrease the transmission of the virus and protect healthcare providers from infection.