The use of telemedicine in cardiogenetics clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated the rapid and wide-spread adoption of novel mechanisms of service delivery. including the use of telemedicine. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on cardiogenetics practices. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients who were seen for cardiogenetics visits pre-pandemic (1 April-23 December 2019) and during the pandemic (1 April-23 December 2020) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Results: Six percent (n = 6) of visits in 2019 were remote telemedicine encounters, whereas 80% (n = 106) of visits in 2020 were telemedicine encounters. In 2019, only 18% (n = 19) of the patients seen for genetic counseling were family members of probands; this percentage increased to 34% in 2020 (n = 45; p = .01). In 2020, the geographic reach of genetic counseling also extended far beyond New York State, reaching a total of 11 states as well as one patient in Puerto Rico. Genetic testing results were similar in 2019 and 2020. Conclusion: Despite the health-care delivery barriers created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of telemedicine allowed us to expand the reach of cardiovascular genetic counseling and testing.