Is pre-visit specific telephonic triage useful to identify patients possibly infected with SARS-CoV-2?
Virtual doctor consultations have been regarded as an alternative to on-site clinical encounters and are increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic.108 Initially, pre-visit telephonic communication is helpful to screen for patients with potential SARS-CoV-2 infection 111 The epidemiological history should be investigated to determine if patients have fever or respiratory symptoms. In addition, pre-visit specific triage improves the efficiency of the patient’s visit, thus reducing the length of stay in the hospital. To reduce face-to-face meetings, physicians can train some patients to self-treat at home based on the diagnosis obtained through a telephone consultation.