key: cord-0043733-j98e2bvy
authors: Mansour, Moussa
title: Letter from the Editor in Chief
date: 2020-05-15
journal: J Innov Card Rhythm Manag
DOI: 10.19102/icrm.2020.110501
sha: c92810b4a553cfdb337ab30e25f07e6fbee38c60
doc_id: 43733
cord_uid: j98e2bvy

nan

Knowing the virus will be present in our communities for many months to come, we will have to find ways to begin performing electrophysiology procedures again while simultaneously introducing new protocols to better protect our patients and staff. To this end, I recently contacted colleagues from countries affected by COVID-19 before the United States who are currently on their way to recovery. From our discussion, it seems that most are relying on large-scale testing for the virus of both patients and staff. The model largely being adopted consists of testing the patient before their elective procedure and proceeding with the operation if the test is negative. Despite that this model requires significant resources, it appears that it is the most successful approach available so far and will probably be adopted in most hospitals around the world for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, nonprocedural clinical care has been less affected by COVID-19 because of past advances in telemedicine, although the virus has perhaps prompted a much speedier adoption of the technology 5 that has not been without its challenges. Still, since the crisis began, most of us have been able to conduct virtual visits and provide effective care in a way that many did not think was possible before the outbreak and it is likely that this will remain in effect to some degree.

Guidance for cardiac electrophysiology during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from the Heart Rhythm Society COVID-19 Task Force

and the Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology

Recommendations for the organization of electrophysiology and cardiac pacing services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Latin American Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS) in collaboration with: Colombian College of Electrophysiology, Argentinian Society of Cardiac Electrophysiology (SADEC), Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias (SOBRAC), Mexican Society of Cardiac Electrophysiology (SOMEEC)

Guidelines for opening up America again

COVID-19 transforms health care through telemedicine: evidence from the field