VIDEO: Telehealth feasible for migraine care

In this video, Christina L. Szperka, MD, MSCE, director of the Pediatric Headache Program and a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, discusses migraine care and treatment strategies in the era of COVID-19.

The review is based on an editorial published in Headache as well as Szperka’s talk at the American Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting, held virtually June 13.

Since the start of the pandemic, health care providers have used telehealth to help keep patients with migraine and other headache disorders out of clinics and EDs. Although certain procedural treatments cannot be implemented through telehealth, Szperka said physicians can still provide adequate migraine care.

“For many patients, the ability to take a full history and do a video exam has been sufficient,” she told Healio Primary Care. “Patients have found it very helpful, consistent with prior research. So, hopefully that will be part of our care going forward.”

Szperka also reviews alternative treatments strategies that are covered by health insurance.

“Particularly during this time when we are so busy taking care of patients with COVID-19 or trying to get through the normal routine of things in such a different way, we really didn’t want to have additional insurance barriers to provide that care,” she said.

Reference:

• Szperka CL, et al. Headache. 2020;doi:10.1111/head.13810.