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Research article
Changes in Patient Visits and Diagnoses seen in an Academic Ophthalmology Department during the COVID-19 pandemic
Meghan K Berkenstock
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
BACKGROUND: To minimize the risk of viral transmission, ophthalmology practices limited face to face encounters to only patients with urgent and emergent ophthalmic conditions, in the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States. The impact of this is unknown.
METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of the change in the frequency of ICD-10 code use and patient volumes in the six weeks before and after the changes in clinical practice associated with COVID-19.
RESULTS: The total number of encounters decreased four-fold after the implementation of clinic changes associated with COVID-19. The low vision, pediatric ophthalmology, general ophthalmology, and cornea divisions had the largest total decrease of in-person visits. Conversely, the number of telemedicine visits increased sixty-fold. The number of diagnostic codes associated with ocular malignancies, most ocular inflammatory disorders, and retinal conditions requiring intravitreal injections increased. ICD-10 codes associated with ocular screening exams for systemic disorders decreased during the weeks post COVID-19.
CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology practices need to be prepared to experience changes in practice patterns, implementation of telemedicine, and decreased patient volumes during a pandemic. Knowing the changes specific to each subspecialty clinic is vital to redistribute available resources correctly.
Keywords
COVID-19, epiphenomena, ocular diagnoses, ophthalmology, telemedicine
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
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On 16 Dec, 2020
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Review #1 received
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Reviewer #2 agreed
On 20 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 20 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
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Reviewer #1 agreed
On 20 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Nov, 2020
Editor invited
On 17 Nov, 2020
Version (no preprint)
Posted 12 Nov, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 12 Nov, 2020
Review #5 received
Received 31 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 24 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 23 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 23 Oct, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 23 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Sep, 2020
This version was not preprinted
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 01 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 02 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 02 Aug, 2020
First submitted
On 31 Jul, 2020
Metrics
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PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Ophthalmology
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Ophthalmology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Changes in Patient Visits and Diagnoses seen in an Academic Ophthalmology Department during the COVID-19 pandemic
Meghan K Berkenstock
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 3
Posted 06 Jan, 2021
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 16 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 16 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 16 Dec, 2020
No comments provided
Review #2 received
Received 24 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 22 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 20 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 20 Nov, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 20 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 20 Nov, 2020
Editor assigned
On 17 Nov, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Nov, 2020
Editor invited
On 17 Nov, 2020
Version (no preprint)
Posted 12 Nov, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 12 Nov, 2020
Review #5 received
Received 31 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #5 agreed
On 24 Oct, 2020
Review #4 received
Received 24 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 23 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 23 Oct, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 23 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Sep, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Sep, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 25 Sep, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 23 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Sep, 2020
This version was not preprinted
No comments provided
Review #1 received
Received 01 Sep, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 18 Aug, 2020
Editor assigned
On 03 Aug, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 02 Aug, 2020
Editor invited
On 02 Aug, 2020
First submitted
On 31 Jul, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Ophthalmology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
BACKGROUND: To minimize the risk of viral transmission, ophthalmology practices limited face to face encounters to only patients with urgent and emergent ophthalmic conditions, in the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States. The impact of this is unknown.
METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of the change in the frequency of ICD-10 code use and patient volumes in the six weeks before and after the changes in clinical practice associated with COVID-19.
RESULTS: The total number of encounters decreased four-fold after the implementation of clinic changes associated with COVID-19. The low vision, pediatric ophthalmology, general ophthalmology, and cornea divisions had the largest total decrease of in-person visits. Conversely, the number of telemedicine visits increased sixty-fold. The number of diagnostic codes associated with ocular malignancies, most ocular inflammatory disorders, and retinal conditions requiring intravitreal injections increased. ICD-10 codes associated with ocular screening exams for systemic disorders decreased during the weeks post COVID-19.
CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology practices need to be prepared to experience changes in practice patterns, implementation of telemedicine, and decreased patient volumes during a pandemic. Knowing the changes specific to each subspecialty clinic is vital to redistribute available resources correctly.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3