LAUSR

Objectives The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic exposed existing stressors in the neurosurgical care infrastructure in the United States. We detail innovative technologic solutions inspired by the pandemic-related restrictions that augmented neurosurgical education and care delivery. Methods Several digital-health and audio-visual innovations were implemented, including use of remote video technology to facilitate inpatient consultations and outpatient ambulatory virtual visits, optimize our regional hospital neurosurgical coverage, expand our interdisciplinary patient management conferences (i.e. Tumor Board), and further enhance our neurosurgical resident education program. Enterprise patient-experience data was queried to evaluate patient satisfaction following the switch to virtual visits. Results Between January 2020 and April 2021 utilization of virtual visits more than doubled in the department of Neurosurgery. A survey of 10,772 patients following ambulatory visits showed that virtual visitation was equal if not better in providing satisfactory patient care than in-person visitation. After switching our interdisciplinary spine tumor board to virtual, we increased surgeon participation and attendance by 49.29%. Integration of remote audio-visual technology in resident didactics and clinical training improved ability to provide comprehensive and personalized educational experiences for our trainees. Conclusion Digital health technology has improved neurosurgical care and comprehensive training at our institution. Investment in the technologic infrastructure required for these remote audio-visual services during the pandemic will facilitate the expansion of neurosurgical care provision for patients across the United States in the future. Governing bodies within organized neurosurgery should advocate for the continued financial and licensing support of theses service on a national fiscal and policy level.