OBJECTIVE In 2021, 37 members of a cohort of depleted uranium-exposed Gulf War I veterans were evaluated using a protocol tailored to accommodate COVID-19 safety practices on a telehealth platform.… Click to show full abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2021, 37 members of a cohort of depleted uranium-exposed Gulf War I veterans were evaluated using a protocol tailored to accommodate COVID-19 safety practices on a telehealth platform. METHODS Individual elements of the legacy protocol were reviewed for urgency and feasibility of inclusion in a modified, telehealth platform. RESULTS The redesigned protocol included a participant readiness for telehealth assessment, nurse and physician telehealth visits, collection of usual health questionnaires and urine collections for exposure monitoring for uranium and other fragment-related metal measures.Conclusions: Despite some limitations in scope, the telehealth platform permitted a visual 'visit' with surveillance participants who expressed a high comfort level with the format. The telehealth platform has apparent utility for occupational surveillance and should be explored as a standard approach for surveillance outside of public health emergencies.
               
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