Editors' note: Telemedicine in neurology: Telemedicine Work Group of the American Academy of Neurology update

Abstract

In “Telemedicine in neurology: Telemedicine Work Group of the American Academy of Neurology update,” Hatcher-Martin et al. review the literature on telemedicine for concussion, dementia, epilepsy, headache, movement, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular, and inpatient neurology consults. The authors conclude that telemedicine expedites care, increases access, reduces cost, and improves diagnostic accuracy and health outcomes, but that further studies are needed to understand the role for telemedicine in neurology. Devanathan notes that telemedicine has successfully been used in India to provide guidance for clinicians and patients in distant parts of the country about a range of neurologic conditions. Similarly, Mao et al. describe the positive impact of teleneuroimmunology in China. However, both Devanathan and Mao et al. caution that establishment of guidelines about telemedicine is imperative to optimize care and prevent litigation. Since the publication of this article, the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the rapid incorporation of telemedicine into every specialty of neurology in countries around the world, and we have gained better insight to the advantages and disadvantages of virtual visits. We anticipate that widespread adoption of teleneurology will spur further investigation and innovation provided that it continues to be supported by insurance companies. In “Telemedicine in neurology: Telemedicine Work Group of the American Academy of Neurology update,” Hatcher-Martin et al. review the literature on telemedicine for concussion, dementia, epilepsy, headache, movement, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular, and inpatient neurology consults. The authors conclude that telemedicine expedites care, increases access, reduces cost, and improves diagnostic accuracy and health outcomes, but that further studies are needed to understand the role for telemedicine in neurology. Devanathan notes that telemedicine has successfully been used in India to provide guidance for clinicians and patients in distant parts of the country about a range of neurologic conditions. Similarly, Mao et al. describe the positive impact of teleneuroimmunology in China. However, both Devanathan and Mao et al. caution that establishment of guidelines about telemedicine is imperative to optimize care and prevent litigation. Since the publication of this article, the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the rapid incorporation of telemedicine into every specialty of neurology in countries around the world, and we have gained better insight to the advantages and disadvantages of virtual visits. We anticipate that widespread adoption of teleneurology will spur further investigation and innovation provided that it continues to be supported by insurance companies.