The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted global economies and brought about unprecedented challenges to health care systems. Much of the morbidity and mortality of the pandemic has been borne by those with underlying medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease.2,3 Efforts to limit the spread of this viral illness, particularly within vulnerable populations through social distancing, resulted in rapid conversion from office-based visits to virtual visits. This transition also accelerated the adoption of telehealth services in the outpatient management of cardiovascular disease.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, use of telehealth services had been limited in cardiovascular care. Reasons for this included lack of infrastructure, restrictions placed by insurance and government agencies, and limited reimbursement. Remote monitoring of vital signs and cardiac rhythm transmissions from mobile health devices had been modestly employed. Although these modalities did improve access for patients, infrastructural redesign was needed.
Established Platforms and Modalities Before COVID-19
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–Parth Patel, MD, Devinder Dhindsa, MD, Danny J. Eapen, MD, Amit Khera, MD, MSc, Martha Gulati, MD, MS, Neil J. Stone, MD, Clyde W. Yancy, MD, John S. Rumsfeld, MD, PhD, Laurence S. Sperling, MD
