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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022.
World J Transplant. Sep 18, 2022; 12(9): 288-298
Published online Sep 18, 2022. doi: 10.5500/wjt.v12.i9.288
Table 1 Telehealth in liver transplantation - benefits and possible drawbacks/areas of improvement
Benefits
Drawbacks
Ease of follow-up (lack of travel)Lack of a physical exam
Fewer costs
Saves time
Preferred by patients living in remote areas
As effective as in-person follow-up (stricter drug level control may be required)Few studies demonstrated increased readmissions associated with telehealth follow-ups[56]
Ease of access (smartphone, smartwatch apps)Lack of access to technology (hardware)
Institution-level
Patient-level
Multiple aspects of postop patient care (immunosuppression, diet, exercise, etc.)Communities/homes with limited internet access (software)
Technical problems (hardware)
Lack of a private setting in shared living environments
Limited English proficiency, need for an interpreter
Auditory/visual impairment, additional need for aids
Concerns regarding adherence of younger patients