Implantación y uso de la telemedicina en la asistencia sanitaria del brote de viruela símica en el Área de Salud de Ibiza y Formentera

Abstract

Objective

The objective of this work is to describe how the use of the information and communication technologies has been used in the clinical control, follow-up and treatment of all the patients affected by monkeypox in our health area.

Design and site

A descriptive, observational and retrospective work has been carried out to show the clinical management of the monkeypox cases assisted in the Health Area of Ibiza and Formentera (ASEF), in the field of the primary care.

Participants and methods

All patients affected by monkeypox who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study (a total of 79 patients), covering the period from 01/06/22 to 30/11/22. A protocol was designed in order to recruit the patients, extract the samples, monitor the close contacts, notify the cases to the health authorities, clinical assistance and administrative processing of the sick leaves.

Results and conclusions

The adherence of the patients with the control system was majoritarian. Telemedicine has been a useful tool for the exchange of information during the provision of continuous medical care to patients affected by the outbreak of monkeypox infection, guaranteeing their safety and privacy and allowing the management of an infectious disease that requires isolation, control, and medical monitoring.