Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jul 1;117(7):1072-1079.doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000001761. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Brian M Fung ^1 2, Eric Markarian ³, Marina Serper ⁴, James H Tabibian ^5 6

Author information

¹Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

²Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

³Academy of Science and Medicine, Crescenta Valley High School, Los Angeles, California, USA.

⁴Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

⁵Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA.

⁶Vatche and Tamar Manoukian Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Abstract

Telemedicine generally refers to the use of technology to communicate with patients and provide health care from a distance. Advances in technology, specifically computers, cellphones, and other mobile devices, have facilitated healthcare providers' growing ability to virtually monitor and mentor patients. There has been a progressive expansion in the use of telemedicine in the field of gastroenterology (GI), which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review, we discuss telemedicine-its history, various forms, and limitations-and its current applications in GI. Specifically, we focus on telemedicine in GI practice in general and specific applications, including the management of inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and colorectal cancer surveillance and its use as an aid in endoscopic procedures.