WhatsApp Consultations in the Department of Electrophysiology of a Public Hospital of the City of Buenos Aires in Times of COVID-19

espanolIntroduccion: La pandemia por coronavirus (COVID-19) es altamente contagiosa. La telemedicina emerge como una opcionpara mantener a nuestros pacientes dentro del sistema sanitario.Objetivo: Implementar consultas por WhatsApp durante 30 dias en un hospital de la Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires(CABA) durante la cuarentena impuesta por COVID-19.Material y metodos: Se analizaron consultas por WhatsApp durante 30 dias consecutivos. Se envio un formulario antes dela consulta telefonica con el especialista. Se realizo un analisis descriptivo de las consultas y los planes propuestos para elseguimiento.Resultados: Se realizaron 263 consultas en 205 pacientes. La cantidad promedio de consultas telefonicas fue de 7,8 mensajes.Las consultas mas frecuentes fueron: palpitaciones (12%) y vacunacion antigripal (11,7%). El seguimiento quedo dividido engrupos: 1) Resueltos via WhatsApp: 154 pacientes; 2) Derivados a un hospital zonal: 25; 3) Derivados a nuestro hospital: 26pacientes.Conclusion: La telemedicina via WhatsApp es factible de ser desarrollada en un hospital publico de la CABA, con una sustancialreduccion de consultas presenciales. EnglishBackground: Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is highly infectious. Telemedicine emerges as an option to keep patients within thehealthcare system.Objective: The aim of this study was to implement WhatsApp consultations during 30 days in a hospital of the City of Buenos Aires(CABA) during the lockdown imposed due to COVID-19.Methods: Consultations via WhatsApp were analyzed for 30 consecutive days. A form was sent prior to telephone consultation withthe specialist. A descriptive analysis of consultations and proposed follow-up plans was carried out.Results: A total of 263 consultations were performed in 205 patients. The average number of telephone consultations was 7.8 messages.The most common topics for consultation were palpitations (12%) and influenza vaccine (11.7%). Follow-up was divided intogroups: 1) Solved via WhatsApp: 154 patients; 2) Referred to a local hospital: 25; 3) Referred to our hospital: 26 patients.Conclusion: Telemedicine via WhatsApp can be developed in public hospitals of CABA, with a substantial reduction of in-personconsultations.