Due to the CoVID-19 pandemic spread, most outpatient facilities have been strictly regulated, thus making it difficult for many patients suffering from chronic pain to access treatment.
During this tough period, all pain physicians, including neurologists, are working to find alternative ways for taking care of patients with chronic pain. The new opportunities provided by technology are now offering smart ways to help our patients. The various apps available for video conferencing allow patients to meet their physicians. Although video conferencing cannot replace face-to-face clinical examination, it may provide enough information to deliver remote help, and distinguish those patients with urgent conditions needing direct clinical examination and prompt counselling.
Although all of us are hoping for rapid resolution of this pandemic outbreak, we do know that this disease will affect our future clinical activity indefinitely. Hence,remote clinical activity using web conferencing will represent an important new tool to support and take care of chronic pain patients.
written by Dr Andrea Truini and Prof. Martin Rakusa
on behalf of the EAN Scientific Panel Pain
