Teleneurology during the COVID-19 pandemic: A step forward in modernizing medical care.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic mandated rapid transition from face-to-face encounters to teleneurology visits. While teleneurology is regularly used in acute stroke care, its application in other branches of neurology was limited. Here we review how the recent pandemic has created a paradigm shift in caring for patients with chronic neurological disorders and how academic institutions have responded to the present need.
Method: Literature review was performed to examine the recent changes in health policies. Number of outpatient visits and televisits in the Department of Neurology was reviewed from Yale University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to examine the road to transition to televisit.
Results: The federal government and the insurance providers extended their supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several rules and regulations regarding teleneurology were revised and relaxed to address the current need. New technologies for video conferencing were incorporated. The transition to televisits went smoothly in both the institutions and number of face-to-face encounters decreased dramatically along with a rapid rise in televisits within 2 weeks of the declaration of national emergency.
Conclusion and Relevance: The need for "social distancing" during the COVID-19 pandemic has created a major surge in the number of teleneurology visits, which will probably continue for the next few months. It may have initiated a more permanent transition to virtual technology incorporated medical care.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Dr. Roy has served as a consultant/advisor for Alexion Pharmaceuticals. He does not have any conflicts of interest related to this article. Dr. Nowak reports no conflicts directly related to this publication. Dr. Nowak received research support from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, argenx, Genentech, Grifols, Immunovant, Momenta, the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), and Ra Pharma; and consultancy fees from Alexion Pharmaceuticals, argenx, CSL Behring, Grifols, Immunovant, Momenta, Ra Pharma, Roivant, and Viela Bio. Dr. Rutkove is a founder of the Myolex, Inc. He also reports equity in, and serves as a consultant and scientific advisor to, Myolex Inc.; he is also a member of the company's Board of Directors. Dr. Rutkove has also received consulting income from Biogen and Roche Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Llyod is in the scientific advisory board of Acceleron. He reports no conflicts directly related to this publication. Dr. Patwa has served as a speaker/advisor for Baxter and CSL. He reports no conflicts directly related to this publication. Dr. Roda reports no conflicts of interests. Dr. Khokhar reports no conflicts of interests.
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