Remote consultations, prescribing and virtual teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals, including non-medical prescribers, needed to assess and treat patients whilst minimising personal contact. This required the rapid implementation of remote consultations. Simultaneously, in health education, virtual learning was fast-tracked to reduce transmission of the virus. A non-medical prescribing academic team and their learners (students) embarked upon a transitional journey to integrate remote consultations into the curriculum. This article will share the experiences of the academic team and learners during this transition and address the practical aspects of conducting remote consultations whilst maintaining patient safety, professional regulations and governance.