Telemedicine versus Physical Examination in Patients' Assessment during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Dubai Experience

INTRODUCTION: With the large number of cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, a smart tool was urgently needed to handle all the positive cases at proper time such as using the technology and implementing telemedicine for triage. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to detect the accuracy and effectiveness of telemedicine as an assessment tool for triage compared to physical assessment. METHODS: In a random sample of 1,086 COVID-19 positive cases during the pandemic in Dubai, all the patients were initially assessed by trained staff using telemedicine following a standardized guidelines and accordingly action was taken by sending the patient to an isolation facility or for hospital admission; the second phase of assessment was conducted physically at the facility. We compared the accuracy of assessment by telemedicine encounter versus physical assessment by detecting any changes of the initial action within 12 h. RESULTS: Telemedicine was accurate in 1,080 out of 1,086 screened patients (99.4%). DISCUSSION: Telemedicine offers fast and convenient response to patients needs with standardization of triage guidelines. Telemedicine has reduced exposure of the medical workers which reduced the possibility of infection as well as reduction of crowds at the medical centers. RECOMMENDATIONS: Telemedicine is very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic for following up the positive and suspected cases as well as cases with history of close contact with a confirmed positive case.