Abstract

Allergy-immunology should be at the forefront of adoption and implementation of these services given the growing interest in the use of telemedicine. Patients say they are more satisfied with video-based encounters with their doctors and have a greater desire for telemedicine services. Interim virtual visits can help overbooked clinics, lighten the hardship of travelling to remote locations, boost adherence during the monitoring of chronic allergy disorders, and improve access to specialist treatment. The simplicity with which many components of a typical visit can be conducted via telemedicine, along with the outpatient nature of allergy-immunology, makes the inclusion of telehealth training into fellowship programmes particularly desirable. The brief shutdown of hospital-affiliated clinics, especially for immunocompromised or vulnerable patients, in the midst of a pandemic shows how timely this problem is. The discussion includes a framework for incorporating telemedicine into the allergy-immunology curriculum, educating faculty on proper supervision, offering elective clinical experience in the form of continuity clinics, and simulating telemedicine delivery. Suggested telemedicine competencies are needed for autonomous telemedicine practise.