Perspectives on Safety

Telehealth and Patient Safety During the COVID-19 Response

This Perspective essay and interview addresses the use of telehealth technologies that have rapidly increased as a means of ensuring the safety of both patients and frontline providers by minimizing potential exposure to COVID-19. In March 2020, CMS issued new rules and temporary regulation of waivers designed to assist the medical community in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, including numerous provisions that will facilitate the use of telehealth. Rapidly accelerating telehealth capabilities within institutions can raise a number of potential patient safety concerns, but this Perspective highlights precautions that can be taken to alleviate this risk. This includes establishing escalation protocols, encouraging pre-charting of upcoming patient visits, ensuring quality assurance plans are in place, and the use of provider tutorials of telehealth basics.