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.