The past few months have seen the world undergo significant and rapid changes due to the global pandemic. Country-wide lockdowns and disruptions to everyday lives have changed the way we live and work. These changes have also affected medical practice and the way we see and treat patients. In this blog, I will discuss how these changes have affected the private cardiology practice and what these changes mean for patients moving forward.
When the UK entered a countrywide lockdown in March of this year this led to a significant disruption to daily lives and businesses up and down the country. The practice of medicine and clinics has also altered – and one would argue for good due to this.
Consultations
The traditional practice of medicine has involved seeing patients in person for a face-to-face consultation. This practice has not changed for hundreds of years and has remained the cornerstone of good medical practice. By taking a detailed history from a patient, conducting an examination and possibly organising heart tests diagnosis is possible. Treatment can then be started. What the lockdown and threat of a pandemic has done is moved medical consultations including my private cardiology practice to make use of video and telephone consultations. Telephone consultations do carry some significant disadvantages in that non-verbal communication is not possible which can play a significant role in making a diagnosis. This is partially overcome by using video conferencing technology such as Zoom. In the Birmingham cardiology practice, Zoom is used as the main means of conducting consultations with patients. The feedback from patients has generally been positive although there are sometimes problems with patient’s ability to use the technology. The main disadvantage of telephone or video consultations is the inability to conduct a physical examination of the patient or to perform private heart tests such as ECG, echocardiograms or portable ECG monitoring.
Private heart tests
Whilst certain private heart tests such as a 12 lead ECG or echocardiogram can only be performed during a face-to-face visit there have been some advances in the use of continuous ECG monitoring. At Dr. Hamaad’s private cardiology practice we have the ability to send patch ECG monitors out to patients for them to attach by themselves. Once the prescribed period of ECG monitoring is complete the monitor is sent back and a report emailed within a few hours. Portable ECG monitoring to investigate heart palpitations and syncope is an important and widely used investigation. The fact that this heart test is now available to patients without the need for the patient to leave their home is an important advancement in our private cardiology practice.
Remote prescribing
The traditional means of administering medicines has always been a handwritten or printed prescription that the patient takes to a pharmacy to allow drugs to be dispensed. Pharmacies have always insisted on a physician’s signature on the prescription to validate it as a valid prescription and to prevent forgeries and inappropriate use of medication. With the evolution of technology and the ability to prescribe electronically, we are now able to arrange for patients to pay for their prescriptions online and have the medicines delivered directly to them at their homes. This avoids the need for unnecessary trips and provides added convenience for patients of Dr Hamaad’s private cardiology practice.
Summary
Whilst the pandemic has caused widespread disruption to our daily lives we have seen greater use of the technology available to overcome these obstacles in reference to private cardiology consultations, heart tests and treatments. Through the use of Zoom (and other video conferencing technology), we have the ability to consult with private cardiology patients across the country and this has allowed Dr Hamaad to expand his practice to a wider geographical area. Whilst most heart tests do need a face-to-face appointment portable ECG monitoring can be conducted remotely. Finally electronic prescribing has enabled prescribed medications to be delivered directly to patients. No doubt as things evolve in this new era we will see an even greater use of innovation to help better serve patients who require a private cardiologist or private heart tests.
