A COVID-19 pandemic-specific, structured care process for Peritoneal Dialysis patients facilitated by Telemedicine: therapy continuity, prevention and complications management.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) has been declared a pandemia. Peritoneal dialysis (PD), being a home therapy, allows for physical distancing measures and movement restrictions. In order to prevent COVID-19 contagious among the Dominican Republic National Health System PD program patients, a follow up virtual protocol for this group was developed. The aim of this study is to outline the protocol established by the PD program's healthcare team using Telemedicine in order to avoid COVID-19 contagious and to report initial results and outcomes of this initiative. METHODS: This is an observational prospective longitudinal study with 946 patients being treated in seven centers distributed throughout the country between April 1st and June 30th. The protocol was implemented focusing on the patient follow-up; risk mitigation data were registered and collected from electronic records. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 95 catheters were implanted, 64 patients-initiated PD and the remaining were in training. A total of 9 532 consultations were given by the different team specialists, being 8 720 (91%) virtual and 812 (9%) face -to -face consultations. The transfer rate to HD was 0.29% whereas the peritonitis rate was 0.11 episode per patient/year. Eighteen adults tested positive for COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the protocol and Telemedicine utilization have ensured follow-up and monitoring, preserved therapy, controlled complications and PD lives protected. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.