Consumer Reported Care Deferrals Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Role and Potential of Telemedicine: Cross-Sectional Analysis.
Adam J AtherlyEline M van den Broek-AltenburgVictoria C HartKelsey M GleasonJan K CarneyPublished in: JMIR public health and surveillance (2020)
Temporary health system shutdowns will give rise to deferred care. However, much of the deferrals will be for preventive services. The effect of this on patient health can be moderated by prioritizing surgical and orthopedic services and delivering other services through telemedicine. Having telemedicine as an option is particularly crucial for mental health services.