Anup Patel, MD: Telemedicine’s Impact on Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Care

"Many of these children are in wheelchairs and it’s a lot of work to get them out of the house, in the car, down to the hospital, and into the parking lot. It can go on and on.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in limited access to in-person care, clinicians were forced to adapt by accelerating the use of telemedicine. Despite the limitations, virtual care for patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) has provided a number of benefits, including a direct look at the in-home setting and the elimination of issues that arise with commuting long-distance to a clinic.

Anup Patel, MD, section chief of pediatric neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, feels as though the some of the limitations the pandemic has bestowed on the country have actually helped patients with LGS. He noted that patients appear to be healthier due to their cautious approach and increased use of masks when stepping outside. Additionally, the ability to have virtual visits greatly benefits those who are wheelchair bound, which make up a solid proportion of patients with LGS.

Patel sat down with NeurologyLive to provide further detail into the advantages that telemedicine has offered for providing quality care and why conducting neurological examinations has actually been easier since the start of the pandemic.