Peter R Swiatek1, Joseph A Weiner1, Daniel J Johnson1, Philip K Louie2, Michael H McCarthy3, Garrett K Harada4,5, Niccole Germscheid6, Jason P Y Cheung7, Marko H Neva8, Mohammad El-Sharkawi9, Marcelo Valacco10, Daniel M Sciubba11, Norman B Chutkan12, Howard S An4,5, Dino Samartzis13,14. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. 2. Neuroscience Institute, Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA. 4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Building, Suite 204-G, 1611 W Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. 5. The International Spine Research and Innovation Initiative, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. 6. Research Department, AO Spine International, Davos, Switzerland. 7. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 8. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. 9. Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Assiut University Medical School, Assiut, Egypt. 10. Department of Orthopaedics, Churruca Hospital de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 11. Department of Neurosurgery, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. 12. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA. 13. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Orthopaedic Building, Suite 204-G, 1611 W Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA. Dino_Samartzis@rush.edu. 14. The International Spine Research and Innovation Initiative, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. Dino_Samartzis@rush.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic forced many surgeons to adopt "virtual medicine" practices, defined as telehealth services for patient care and online platforms for continuing medical education. The purpose of this study was to assess spine surgeon reliance on virtual medicine during the pandemic and to discuss the future of virtual medicine in spine surgery. METHODS: A comprehensive survey addressing demographic data and virtual medicine practices was distributed to spine surgeons worldwide between March 27, 2020, and April 4, 2020. RESULTS: 902 spine surgeons representing seven global regions responded. 35.6% of surgeons were identified as "high telehealth users," conducting more than half of clinic visits virtually. Predictors of high telehealth utilization included working in an academic practice (OR = 1.68, p = 0.0015) and practicing in Europe/North America (OR 3.42, p < 0.0001). 80.1% of all surgeons were interested in online education. Dedicating more than 25% of one's practice to teaching (OR = 1.89, p = 0.037) predicted increased interest in online education. 26.2% of respondents were identified as "virtual medicine surgeons," defined as surgeons with both high telehealth usage and increased interest in online education. Living in Europe/North America and practicing in an academic practice increased odds of being a virtual medicine surgeon by 2.28 (p = 0.002) and 1.15 (p = 0.0082), respectively. 93.8% of surgeons reported interest in a centralized platform facilitating surgeon-to-surgeon communication. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has changed spine surgery by triggering rapid adoption of virtual medicine practices. The demonstrated global interest in virtual medicine suggests that it may become part of the "new normal" for surgeons in the post-pandemic era.
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic forced many surgeons to adopt "virtual medicine" practices, defined as telehealth services for patient care and online platforms for continuing medical education. The purpose of this study was to assess spine surgeon reliance on virtual medicine during the pandemic and to discuss the future of virtual medicine in spine surgery. METHODS: A comprehensive survey addressing demographic data and virtual medicine practices was distributed to spine surgeons worldwide between March 27, 2020, and April 4, 2020. RESULTS: 902 spine surgeons representing seven global regions responded. 35.6% of surgeons were identified as "high telehealth users," conducting more than half of clinic visits virtually. Predictors of high telehealth utilization included working in an academic practice (OR = 1.68, p = 0.0015) and practicing in Europe/North America (OR 3.42, p < 0.0001). 80.1% of all surgeons were interested in online education. Dedicating more than 25% of one's practice to teaching (OR = 1.89, p = 0.037) predicted increased interest in online education. 26.2% of respondents were identified as "virtual medicine surgeons," defined as surgeons with both high telehealth usage and increased interest in online education. Living in Europe/North America and practicing in an academic practice increased odds of being a virtual medicine surgeon by 2.28 (p = 0.002) and 1.15 (p = 0.0082), respectively. 93.8% of surgeons reported interest in a centralized platform facilitating surgeon-to-surgeon communication. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has changed spine surgery by triggering rapid adoption of virtual medicine practices. The demonstrated global interest in virtual medicine suggests that it may become part of the "new normal" for surgeons in the post-pandemic era.
Authors: Philip K Louie; Garrett K Harada; Michael H McCarthy; Niccole Germscheid; Jason P Y Cheung; Marko H Neva; Mohammad El-Sharkawi; Marcelo Valacco; Daniel M Sciubba; Norman B Chutkan; Howard S An; Dino Samartzis Journal: Global Spine J Date: 2020-05-06
Authors: Sonu Bhaskar; Sian Bradley; Vijay Kumar Chattu; Anil Adisesh; Alma Nurtazina; Saltanat Kyrykbayeva; Sateesh Sakhamuri; Sanni Yaya; Thankam Sunil; Pravin Thomas; Viviana Mucci; Sebastian Moguilner; Simon Israel-Korn; Jason Alacapa; Abha Mishra; Shawna Pandya; Starr Schroeder; Ashish Atreja; Maciej Banach; Daniel Ray Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2020-10-16
Authors: Karim Shafi; Francis Lovecchio; Grant J Riew; Dino Samartzis; Philip K Louie; Niccole Germscheid; Howard S An; Jason Pui Yin Cheung; Norman Chutkan; Gary Michael Mallow; Marko H Neva; Frank M Phillips; Daniel M Sciubba; Mohammad El-Sharkawi; Marcelo Valacco; Michael H McCarthy; Melvin C Makhni; Sravisht Iyer Journal: Eur Spine J Date: 2021-01-22 Impact factor: 3.134
Authors: Juan N Barajas; Alexander L Hornung; Timothy Kuzel; Gary M Mallow; Grant J Park; Samuel S Rudisill; Philip K Louie; Garrett K Harada; Michael H McCarthy; Niccole Germscheid; Jason Py Cheung; Marko H Neva; Mohammad El-Sharkawi; Marcelo Valacco; Daniel M Sciubba; Norman B Chutkan; Howard S An; Dino Samartzis Journal: Global Spine J Date: 2022-09-29