Cystic fibrosis telemedicine in the era of COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in large-scale changes to incorporate telemedicine for the delivery of care. People with cystic fibrosis (CF) have care considerations that pose challenges to telemedicine; they include frequent visits for pulmonary disease progression, medication management, and evaluation by a multidisciplinary team of providers. We share our center's experience with video visits replacing in-person clinic evaluation, using quality improvement strategies to create a replicable workflow. Key considerations include incorporation of the multidisciplinary team into the visit, limitations of remote delivery of care, as well as patient and staff perceptions of this care model. Results revealed that video visits were convenient, efficacious, and comparable to in-person visits, with interest for its continued incorporation into the traditional CF care model. Lay Summary The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in the need to incorporate telemedicine as a form of patient care. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting the lungs and multiple other organs. CF patients require frequent clinic visits for disease monitoring and medication management provided by a team of physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, dietitians, and social workers. We share our CF center's experience with video visits replacing in-person clinic evaluation during the pandemic using a patient and staff survey. Our results showed the telemedicine care model was convenient, efficacious, and similar to in-person visits, with interest for its continued beyond the pandemic.