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Abstract Details
Telemedicine in Hepatology: Current Applications and Future Directions
Brian M Fung12, Megan Perumpail3, Yuval A Patel4, James H Tabibian56
Author information
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ.
2Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ.
3Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ.
4Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC.
5Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Olive View - UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, CA.
6David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.
Abstract
Telemedicine refers to the use of information and communication technologies for providing health care at a distance. Through the use of telecommunication technologies such as cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices, health care providers are able to conduct patient visits, mentor/train other providers, and monitor patients' chronic diseases remotely, potentially hundreds or thousands of miles away. Over the past 2 decades, the use of telemedicine has grown in the field of hepatology. In this review, we provide a focused primer on telemedicine and its current applications in hepatology. In particular, we discuss the use of telemedicine in the management of chronic hepatitis C, the complications of liver disease, as well as preliver transplantation evaluation and posttransplantation care. In addition, we provide a synopsis of the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the use of telemedicine in hepatology.