Importance of Obstetrics and Gynaecology During COVID-19 Pandemic

MedTech Outlook | Monday, May 24, 2021

COVID‐19 has necessitated the restructuring of the healthcare system and greatly impacted service provision.

FREMONT, CA: A lack of appreciation of symptoms associated with COVID‐19, as well as the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers of the virus, contributed to healthcare facilities becoming ‘hotspots’ for infection. A widespread restructuring of services and clinical practice was quickly undertaken to mitigate potential exposure and infection amongst healthcare professionals and patients. Despite being prompted by adversity, several changes in process, clinical management, and innovations introduced in response to COVID‐19 may have a long‐lasting effect, resulting in the adoption of a more streamlined approach to healthcare.

The objective of restructuring healthcare services was to mitigate the risk of transmission without jeopardizing standards of healthcare. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommended that women handle remote communication for outpatient antenatal and gynecology clinics where possible. Telemedicine encompasses ways like web‐based programs, video teleconferences, and telephone consultations. In such instances, it is vital to decide which cases are suitable, considering the limitations of not being able to examine investigations immediately.

The deployment of telemedicine within obstetrics may provoke apprehension regarding aspects of care that conventionally need in‐person monitoring, like during antenatal care, where regular blood pressure monitoring and fetal assessment is needed. However, telemedicine's ability is improved by the proven efficacy of home blood pressure monitors and the development of wearable fetal electrocardiography sensors. Telemedicine can facilitate training and education and contribute towards continued development. Remote feedback from experienced surgeons during surgery has been shown to offer a cost‐effective learning method with a similar efficacy and safety profile as in‐person mentoring.

Despite evidence that restructuring services can have various benefits, this may adversely affect health outcomes among vulnerable groups like low‐income populations and ethnic minorities. In the context of telemedicine, communication inhibits individuals from seeking access to healthcare, like immigrant or refugee populations, those with low literacy levels, or those without access to technology.

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