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The Rise of Technology During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Elise Wollemberg

August 9, 2020          

 

          The growing connection between modern technology and medicine has been highlighted throughout the devastating COVID-19 pandemic as technological instruments have provided assistance in the testing, treating, and managing of the virus. According to Adrian Cho of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, on December 30, 2020 one of the first international warnings of the pandemic was issued not by a human, but rather an Artificial Intelligence program (Healthmap) run by Boston Children’s Hospital, which scans the internet for signs of potential disease outbreaks. As self-quarantining and practicing social distancing became necessary in our society, social media sites which allow for virtual communication became increasingly popular. The Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare published an article titled, “A descriptive analysis of an on-demand telehealth approach for remote COVID-19 patient screening,” which highlights the use of these platforms in medicine. According to the article, out of the analyzed 5,712 patients who attended a telehealth appointment, 61.1% were seen for a reason likely related to COVID. The visits had a mean length of 8.8 minutes, during which the patients concerns were addressed and a course of action was prescribed. For many of the patients, this course included a recommended visit to a testing center, urgent care facility, or emergency room. Out of the 4,518 patients who completed a telehealth visit, 9.1% disclosed that they would not have sought in-person care if the remote option was unavailable. These direct-to-consumer telehealth visits provide patients with access to a medical professional, while limiting potential exposure of the patient. It is possible that the use of direct-to-consumer virtual health visits will continue even after the development of a vaccine, so as to limit the exposure, extended wait times, and the travel accompanying in-person visits.

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