Comment on: Coronavirus 2019 in Geriatrics and Long-Term Care: The ABCDs of COVID-19.

To the Editor: We appreciated D' Adamo, Yoshikawa, and Ouslanderʼs article on the ABCDs of managing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) epidemic in long‐term care, and Lopezʼs letter of comment.

In reading these excellent articles, an E came to our mind.

A few years ago, Malone et al used the term E‐Geriatrian to indicate an off‐site geriatrician who participates in the interdisciplinary team meetings through teleconference, discussing high‐risk cases in order to develop a care plan in response to geriatric problems.

We would replace the term with “E‐Geriatrics” with reference to Geriatrics as a science of complexity accustomed to interdisciplinary and intergenerational dialogue, which opens up to the use of telemedicine and artificial intelligence in order to facilitate the management of the older persons. The ABCDEs of managing the COVID‐19 epidemic in long‐term care can be a better opportunity for older patients (Figure 1).

Figure 1

The ABCDEs of COVID‐19.

Indeed, the evolution of the health needs of the population necessitates a structural and organizational redesign of the service network, with a view to strengthening the territorial sphere of assistance, of which residential structures are part.

Telemedicine could favor the relocation of those patients having “gray” clinical pictures from healthcare facilities to their home (Figure 1). As the Italian events highlighted during COVID‐19 epidemic, this opportunity should be not overlooked.