Are video appointments a good thing?
In 2021 we surveyed over 2,000 MSers to capture their thoughts on how things like remote appointments are impacting our access to healthcare.
• 51% of MSers found it challenging to attend face-to-face appointments with their MS healthcare team.
• 42% of MSers were dissatisfied with the level of access to an MS neurologist.
• 60% of MSers considered video appointments with MS neurologists to be the same or better than face-to-face.
• 70% of MSers saw a role for telemedicine in the future of MS care.
Our findings highlight virtual or remote care as being hugely beneficial, but not a cure-all. These unique insights provide an unprecedented opportunity to invite our voices ‘into the room’ when HCPs shape their services for the future.
How do you feel about remote appointments?
Click here to read the full paper: https://shift.ms/whitepapers/the-future-of-ms-clinical-care
Yes and no. Sometimes I feel that there was no need for me to drag my arse into a hospital for no examination. A quick chat about symptoms on a video call I have found super convenient. A hospital trip can feel like I have to block out a whole day. However, I am sure that on occasion a video call is not enough, if a physical examination is required. Sometimes I wish there were flexible appointments so we could choose. Probably not enough MS neurologists, or capability 🤷♀️. The whole service here in the UK could do with a shake up. It’s not the 1950s anymore lol. Love to hear what other people think 🤔. Thanks @billy.
I agree with @Clary, though I feel that you should have a face-to-face with someone. I also think there should be a programme in place that puts us through what Dr Boster calls the MS Olympics. A MRI is OK for highlighting lesions but it doesn't cover your symptoms. These can only be gauged by routine, regular checks which form part of the EDSS scale. That would then give you a much better overview of how you are progressing, or not. Those can't done over a telephone, or video, call. And it appears that this is not something that is advocated across the NHS for MS suffers. I don't get the MS Olympics any more, not since I came off the clinical trial I was on and I miss them, because I could get a good sense if certain symptoms were getting worse. I agree, a mixture of the two, but I would also recommend that you see your neurologist, in person, at least once a year.