ACS Statement Guides Surgeons in Telehealth Practices

Telehealth is an integral component of modern surgical practice, and through the new “Statement on the Importance and Standards of Telehealth in Surgical Practice,” the ACS acknowledges the transformative potential of this technology.

During its February meeting, the ACS Board of Regents approved the statement, prepared by the Board of Governors Telehealth & Informatics Workgroup, which details the importance of telehealth in surgical practice and establishes standards for its optimal use to benefit patients.

The statement called telehealth a “transformative tool in healthcare,” while also emphasizing potential benefits of incorporating telehealth into surgical practice, including enhancing access, efficiency and convenience, patient-centered care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and cost efficiency.

According to the new statement, the ACS promotes the use of telehealth “only when it can provide the equal level of care as an in-person visit or when it is used as an adjunct to improve the overall care of the surgical patient,” such as for consultations, preoperative assessments, and follow-up and monitoring.

The statement also offers best practices for surgeons using telehealth.

In addition, the ACS released a primer, “Unlocking the Potential of Telehealth in Surgery,” that was developed by the workgroup. The primer is a comprehensive guide to help ensure ethical and effective use of telehealth.

The full statement and primer are available on the ACS website.