Trends in Pediatric Ambulatory Practice during COVID-19 Lockdown.


Journal

The Israel Medical Association journal : IMAJ
ISSN: 1565-1088
Titre abrégé: Isr Med Assoc J
Pays: Israel
ID NLM: 100930740

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
May 2022
Historique:
entrez: 22 5 2022
pubmed: 23 5 2022
medline: 25 5 2022
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

On 18 March 2020, the Israeli Health Ministry issued lockdown orders to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To assess the association of lockdown orders on telemedicine practice and the effect of social distancing on infectious diseases in a primary care community pediatric clinic as well as the rate of referrals to emergency departments (ED) and trends of hospitalization. Investigators performed a retrospective secondary data analysis that screened for visits in a large pediatric center from 1 January to 31 May 2020. Total visits were compared from January to December 2020 during the same period in 2019. Visits were coded during the first lockdown as being via telemedicine or in-person, and whether they resulted in ED referral or hospitalization. Month-to-month comparisons were performed as well as percent change from the previous year. There was a sharp decline of in-person visits (24%) and an increase in telemedicine consultations (76%) during the first lockdown (p < 0.001). When the lockdown restrictions were eased, there was a rebound of 50% in-person visits (p < 0.05). There was a profound decrease of visits for common infectious diseases during the lockdown period. Substantial decreases were noted for overall visits, ED referrals, and hospitalizations in 2020 compared to 2019. COVID-19 had a major impact on primary care clinics, resulting in fewer patient-doctor encounters, fewer overall visits, fewer ED referrals, and fewer hospitalizations.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
On 18 March 2020, the Israeli Health Ministry issued lockdown orders to mitigate the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE
To assess the association of lockdown orders on telemedicine practice and the effect of social distancing on infectious diseases in a primary care community pediatric clinic as well as the rate of referrals to emergency departments (ED) and trends of hospitalization.
METHODS METHODS
Investigators performed a retrospective secondary data analysis that screened for visits in a large pediatric center from 1 January to 31 May 2020. Total visits were compared from January to December 2020 during the same period in 2019. Visits were coded during the first lockdown as being via telemedicine or in-person, and whether they resulted in ED referral or hospitalization. Month-to-month comparisons were performed as well as percent change from the previous year.
RESULTS RESULTS
There was a sharp decline of in-person visits (24%) and an increase in telemedicine consultations (76%) during the first lockdown (p < 0.001). When the lockdown restrictions were eased, there was a rebound of 50% in-person visits (p < 0.05). There was a profound decrease of visits for common infectious diseases during the lockdown period. Substantial decreases were noted for overall visits, ED referrals, and hospitalizations in 2020 compared to 2019.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
COVID-19 had a major impact on primary care clinics, resulting in fewer patient-doctor encounters, fewer overall visits, fewer ED referrals, and fewer hospitalizations.

Identifiants

pubmed: 35598049

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Pagination

277-283

Auteurs

Herman Avner Cohen (HA)

Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Maya Gerstein (M)

Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Vered Shkalim Zemer (V)

Clalit Health Services, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Sophia Heiman (S)

Pediatric Ambulatory Community Clinic, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Yael Richenberg (Y)

Dan-Petah Tikva District, Clalit Health Services, Israel.

Eyal Jacobson (E)

Dan-Petah Tikva District, Clalit Health Services, Israel.

Oren Berkowitz (O)

Department of Health Systems Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

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