The use of telemedicine in the care of elderly patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case study of Hong Kong and Singapore

Telemedicine refers to the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) by licensed healthcare professionals to remotely diagnose, treat and communicate with patients in a real-time manner, manage patients’ chronic conditions, monitor patients’ vital signs or recovery progress after surgery, deliver rehabilitative care or therapy sessions to patients, and allow rapid transmission of medical data and images for review. It serves as an adjunct modality to traditional, face-to-face consultations and is best used for non-urgent cases, a routine check-up, outpatient follow-up, post-discharge care, preventive care and patients with mobility issues. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the global spread of an infectious respiratory disease has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine across the globe to reduce healthcare professionals’ and patients’ risk of virus infection and transmission, conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) during severe shortages, reduce strain on overwhelmed healthcare facilities and ensure continuity of care for elderly patients. It is expected that the use of telemedicine would continue to increase globally due to the threats posed by COVID-19 or other public health crises. Asia is expected to have greater use of telemedicine so as to meet the greater demand for healthcare caused by the rapid ageing of population. Infrastructure, legislation, digital literacy training and social influence would be four factors critical for the use, growth and sustainability of telemedicine in the long run.