To summarize the available literature regarding telehealth interventions in the management of pelvic floor disorders.
Most Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) patients own and feel comfortable operating the technology required to participate in telehealth interventions and would be willing to interact remotely with their providers. Telehealth may be an appropriate and effective tool for patient education about bladder and pelvic physiology and pathophysiology, remote pelvic floor muscle strengthening when in-person physical therapy is not accessible, overactive bladder follow-up and medication management, and for postoperative care following uncomplicated incontinence and prolapse surgery.
There is a growing body of literature specific to FPMRS supporting various telehealth interventions that could reasonably be expected to improve access to sub-specialty care while maintaining or improving healthcare quality and reducing costs to the patient and the healthcare system.
Current bladder dysfunction reports. 2021 Nov 03 [Epub ahead of print]
Francesca Barrett, Lauren E Stewart, Benjamin M Brucker
Departments of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, NYU Langone Health/NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY USA.