Experts in telemedicine and venous thromboembolism were featured in the latest edition of the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) Grand Rounds.  

Dr Khalid Alyafei of Sidra Medicine spoke about the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine, the infrastructure required for its delivery, and the experiences of physicians at Sidra in their use of telemedicine to support patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Alyafei, who is also Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at WCM-Q, said that one of the lessons they learned is that video consultations not only provide a safe and efficient way to see patients during a pandemic but that it also allows them to actually improve patient care.

For example, I can easily and quickly invite an interpreter into the call, and I can also work together with fellow healthcare professionals in my hospital, other hospitals in the region, or even outside the region. This is extremely useful, especially for complex cases, and can lead to better outcomes for patients when deployed correctly.

Venous Thromboembolism

At a subsequent Grand Rounds event, Dr Marcus Lancé, Head of Research and Vice-Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), explained the pathophysiology of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a serious condition in which a blood clot forms – usually in the deep veins of the legs, groins or arms – becomes dislodged and then travels via the circulatory system to become lodged in one of the pulmonary arteries of the lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Dr Lancé, who is also Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at WCM-Q, explained the impact of VTE on critically ill patients and outlined preventive measures to avoid VTE. These include drinking plenty of water, moving and walking as much as possible to avoid long periods of inactivity (particularly when hospitalised or travelling), wearing compression stockings, taking blood-thinning medications and wearing special inflatable sleeves around the legs and feet.

Grand Rounds online

All WCM-Q Grand Rounds events have been delivered online since the beginning of the pandemic, a move which has led to a significant increase in the number of participants.

Grand Rounds Committee Chairperson Dr Aicha Hind Rifai said they are extremely grateful to Dr Alyafei and Dr Lancé for sharing their expertise with the healthcare community in Qatar.

The pandemic has demonstrated the important role online platforms play in the distribution of the latest healthcare information and we are very pleased that Grand Rounds sessions have proved to be both useful and popular during this period.

Both lectures were accredited locally by the Ministry of Public Health Department of Healthcare Professions – Accreditation Section and by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME).

Visit qatar-weill.cornell.edu for more information about the online Grand Rounds series. 

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