AJOMS Vol One 2024
Australasian Journal of
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY Official journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association of
Editor
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Oceania Region
Professor A Goss editorajoms@anzaoms.org Deputy Editors Professor A Heggie AM Professor D Wiesenfeld
+61 2 8091 0535 ISSN: 2982-0065
ajoms@anzaoms.org
Level 13, 37 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
The Australasian Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is the official scientific journal of the Australia & New Zealand Association of Oral &
F O U N D AT I O N E D I T O R
EDITORIAL BOARD
Alastair Goss
Business Manager Dieter Gebauer
• Emeritus Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The University of Adelaide • Emeritus Consultant Surgeon, The Royal Adelaide Hospital Adelaide, Australia
Perth, Australia
Maxillofacial Surgeons. DEPUTY EDITORS Aim & Scope The Australasian Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery is the premier forum for the exchange of information for new and significant research in oral and maxillofacial surgery, promoting the surgical discipline in the Oceanic region.
Oceania comprises 19 countries, spread over one sixth of the globe, but with Australia and New Zealand being the dominant developed countries.
The Journal comprises peer reviewed scientific reports, reviews, case reports of rare of unusual conditions, and perspective all of value for continuing professional development. Information for prospective authors, including author guidelines, publication ethics, malpractice statements and patient consent forms are available for download from the Australian & New Zealand Association Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery homepage. All correspondence with the Editor is via editorajoms@anzaoms.org.
Andrew Heggie, AM
• Clinical Professor, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne • Senior Consultant Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Royal Children’s Hospital of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia
David Wiesenfeld
• Honorary Clinical Professor, The University of Melbourne • Lead in Head & Neck Research & Education, The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Melbourne, Australia
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C O V I D - 1 9 SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE
UTILISATION OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SPECIALIST TELEHEALTH SERVICES DURING COVID-19 IN AUSTRALIA
A trend analysis
ABSTRACT
Masongo C (BSc (Hons))† Chih H (BSc (Hons), MBiostat, PhD)† Daire J (BSc (Nurs), MA (HlthPolPlan), PhD)†
Objectives:
Estai M (MBBS), MSc, PhD)‡ Gebauer D (BDSc, MBBS, FRACDS (OMS), MClinRes)‡ § Smith L (BDSc, MBBS, PGradDip (OMS), FRACDS (OMS)
§
To investigate the trends in the use of MBS (Medicare Benefits Schedule) specialist telehealth services by patients and their potential implications for oral and maxillofacial surgery.
† Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
Methods:
‡ School of Human Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
telehealth services (video conference and telephone) from May
§
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia
A retrospective evaluation of deidentified Medicare Benefits Schedule data from Services Australia of claims made under specialist 2020 to May 2022, a billing method used by oral and maxillofacial surgeons was obtained. The uptake of each specialist telehealth service item was reported across Australian states and territories by gender and age groups. Descriptive statistics were used to compare uptake among groups, and the most and least number of claims were identified.
Corresponding Author: HUI JIN CHI Curtin School of Population Health Bentley, Western Australia, Australia Email: h.chih@curtin.edu.au
Results: Over 2.5 million services were billed under specialist telehealth items from the MBS. Video conferencing usage was five times greater than telephone telehealth services during the study period of 2020 to 2022. Across all telehealth items, Victoria had the highest uptake, whereas the Northern Territory had the lowest uptake per capita. Females were 18% more likely than males to undergo a specialist telehealth consultation. Video conferencing consultations were more popular with those aged 55 to 74, with 30% of claims filed under these items, while telephone consultations were more popular with those aged 35 to 54, with 39% of claims reported for the items. The subsequent telehealth services were utilised twofold over the initial telehealth services. Conclusion: The trends in specialist telehealth services uptake for oral and maxillofacial surgery demonstrate a clear demand for such services
Keywords:
post-COVID pandemic. Hence, providing practice guidelines,
telehealth | COVID-19 | specialist care access |
educational materials, and training tailored to the needs of specific
barriers | oral and maxillofacial care |
populations has the potential to enhance both the patient and provider
patient uptake
experience of using telehealth. AJOMS Volume 1 2024 |
159
INTRODUCTION
Australian specialist telehealth services are available through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and financial coverage.1 These services have proven successful in screening, diagnosis, treatment management, follow-up, general assessment, and treatment planning across specialties requiring extensive physical examination, such as oral and maxillofacial surgery.2 Telehealth services have been especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping patients access healthcare while avoiding unnecessary physical contact. 3 In March 2020, new funding was introduced under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for telehealth services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.1 As part of the response to COVID-19, telehealth services for oral and maxillofacial surgery were introduced in the form of videoconferencing item codes 54001 (initial) and 54002 (subsequent) and telephone telehealth item codes 54003 (initial) and 54004 (subsequent).4 This funding has expanded the scope of specialist telehealth services to videoconferencing services and patients living in rural and remote areas.1 Providing specialist services in this manner proved safer and more cost effective. 5 This policy response contributed significantly to the adoption of telehealth during COVID-19. Barriers have been identified as the overuse of services and the build-up of existing limitations. 5 This evidence created an understanding of telehealth services used in Australia during COVID-19 and insight into potential future implementation. There has been an emphasis on determining future policy measures that will not increase risk, but ensure continuity of quality and safety of care while alleviating social barriers. 5,6 This affirms the importance of telehealth policies that are both effective and beneficial to all stakeholders. 5 An individual’s ability to benefit from telehealth is determined by factors such as accessibility and availability of resources, relationships with providers, the individual’s condition and health, digital literacy, and provider operating conditions.7,8 To determine the best direction for the implementation of telehealth, these factors should be considered when developing telehealth policies. 9 Optimising telehealth’s potential requires an understanding of these determinants in particular clinical specialties. 5,6 An increase in mobility difficulties among older adults as due to physical and cognitive limitations they age makes it difficult for them to visit their healthcare providers, and more women than men are affected by these limitations.10,11,12 Access to transportation, long waiting times for appointments, and financial burden as a result of multiple health conditions requiring extensive healthcare are a few of these issues.10,11 Another common issue has been technology literacy.13 A significant proportion of the elderly population has difficulty understanding and utilising technology for information and services13. In a study of older Australians’ digital behaviour, males report being more proficient at performing basic and advanced digital tasks than females.13 Furthermore, older age groups (80 and over) reported having less access to digital technology than younger older adults (50-69).13 To meet the needs of the aging population, interventions must balance meeting demand and meeting challenges
160 | AJOMS Volume 1 2024
while life expectancy and the proportion of older people
To explore the future implications of MBS specialist
increase.10,11 Hence, advancement in technology has great
telehealth used in oral and maxillofacial surgery, further
potential to not only provide accessible healthcare services
research is required. By leveraging telehealth, there is
to wider population groups it also offers the opportunity to
a greater capacity to bridge the gap in care inequalities
diversify healthcare to meet the preferences of patients as
and widen the scope of oral and maxillofacial healthcare
well as providers. 5
services available to patients. For this reason, this study aims to examine trends in the uptake of specialist
Researchers previously examined the uptake of COVID-19
telehealth services by patients of different characteristics
telehealth item codes for oral and maxillofacial surgical
and discusses the future expectations of specialist
services provided by clinicians with a single dental/
telehealth services for oral and maxillofacial telehealth in
fellowship qualification. A significant increase in uptake
Australia based on the trends in patient uptake. There is a
was observed during the rollout of these services. There
focus on the following key objectives:
7
is, however, limited information available on the uptake and use of oral and maxillofacial specialist telehealth services used for billing purposes by dual-qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia during COVID-19. Considering that the use of telehealth is expected to
1.
increase in the future, there is a need for telehealth
To explore the trends in telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia by age and gender groups; and
policies tailored towards specific specialists to guarantee successful outcomes.7
2.
Identify the trends in the uptake of telehealth service use across Australian States and Territories by age and gender groups.
METHODS Study design and data collection A retrospective descriptive study examined the trends in
These items are used by dual-qualified oral and
telehealth use from specialist MBS telehealth consultations
maxillofacial surgeons. Item numbers used by single dental
claimed during COVID-19 (May 2020 to May 2022). To
degree-qualified surgeons, who represent a decreasing
capture data on uptake during the COVID-19 peak in
proportion of older surgeons (10%), are not captured in this
Australia, a two-year period was chosen. The sampling
analysis.
frame was the open-access Medicare Statistics Database (Services Australia, 2022). The data were collected
To identify trends in how telehealth was utilised during
from a purposive sample of patients who had received a
this period, the per capita rates for utilisation of telehealth
telehealth consultation billed under a specialist telehealth
service items were compared between states and
MBS item number between May 2020 and May 2022.
territories. This was done to determine trends in the uptake
The relevant data were deidentified, processed and
of telehealth services. The overall patterns of uptake across
made available through Services Australia, an executive
gender and age groups were measured by aggregating
agency of the Australian Government.14 Inclusion criteria
the number of monthly claims made during the observation
included patients billed by specialist clinicians for the four
period by gender and age groups for each item.
items (91822, 91823, 91832, 91833) in Australia. The numbers, which include a mix of consultations and post-
Ethics approval for this study was granted by the Curtin
operative follow-up, are used for initial telephone (91822),
Human Research Ethics Committee (Approval number:
subsequent telephone (91823), initial videoconferencing
HRE2022-0317-02).
(91832), and subsequent videoconferencing (91833).
AJOMS Volume 1 2024 |
161
MBS activity data for each specialist telehealth item (codes 91822, 91823, 91832, 91833) were extracted as comma-separated values (CSV) files. Summary statistics of frequency and proportion of telehealth consultations (items 91822, 91823, 91832, 91833) claimed from May 2020 to May 2022 were performed. The data were also reported by year of the observation period (May 2020- April 2021; May 2021-May 2022) across all Australian states and territories by gender (males and females) and age (from 0-14 to 75+ in intervals of 15 years) groups. Reports for the overall trends in specialist telehealth services uptake were also
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
Data analysis
70 60 Male
50 Female
40 30 20 10 0 ACT
NSW
generated per capita amongst states and territories. Item report statistics were compiled, arranged, and analysed using Excel spreadsheets (Microsoft 2023).
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
States and Territories Figure 1 Claims made for male and female patients under item 91822
Comparing claims made for male and female patients under item 91822, 30% more consults were claimed for female patients than male patients. The median uptake
Results
among female patients was 3,578 (IQR 1,539-17,180),
There were more than 2.5 million specialist telehealth
while the median uptake among male patients was 2,491
services claimed under the MBS between May 2020 and
(IQR 920-10,017) (Figure 1). Female patients were more
May 2022. The first year of the observation period saw the
likely to receive an initial telephone consultation than their
submission of approximately 1.2 million claims (May 2020
male counterparts, with a difference of 1,087 consults.
to April 2021). There was an increase in the number of
Over the two-year observation period, female patients
claims made in the second year of the observation period
from New South Wales reported the highest uptake of the
(May 2021 to May 2022), with over 1.3 million (53%) claims
initial telephone item, which represented 15% of all initial
being made.
telephone claims. Contrary to this, male patients from the Northern Territory had the lowest uptake of the initial
Demographic results revealed that 59% of claims were
telephone item.
submitted for female patients, while 41% were submitted for male patients. Amongst age groups, 34% of claims
A total of 418 (IQR 136-1858.75) median claims were
were recorded for patients aged 55 to 74. This was
reported under the initial telephone service across all age
followed by patients aged 35 to 54 (30%), patients aged
groups. In total, 42% of all claims billed under the initial
15 to 34 (18%), patients aged 75 and over (16%), and the
telephone item were for patients 35 to 54 years of age
youngest age group with ages 0 to 14 (2%).
(Figure 2). More individuals aged 35 to 54 years from New South Wales opted for the initial telephone item than the
In this period, 69.7% of the total claims were submitted
other age groups across Australia. The lowest uptake
under the subsequent videoconferencing item (91833).
of initial telephone service was in the Northern Territory
The initial videoconferencing item was the second most
among individuals aged 75 and older, accounting for less
reported item, accounting for 12.5% of all claims. The
than 1% of claims under item 91822 (Figures 1-2).
third-most reported item was subsequent telephone item, which accounted for 11.5% of all claims. Over the period of
Item 91823 (Subsequent telephone)
observation, the initial telephone item had the least number of reported claims, at 6.3%.
The uptake for the subsequent telephone items were similar across the States and Territories. Majority of claims of this
Item 91822 (Initial telephone)
item 91823 were filed by patients in Victoria (44%), with 1942 claims reported per capita. The Northern Territory
The number of claims made under the initial telephone
had the lowest reported uptake of claims under this item
item indicates a substantial difference between states
with 264 claims made per capita.
and territories. Results revealed that 41% of consultations were claimed in Victoria, with 990 claims made per capita. The lowest number of claims was recorded the Northern Territory, with 219 claims made per capita during the observation period.
162 | AJOMS Volume 1 2024
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
70
WA
60
VIC
50
TAS
40
SA
30
QLD
20
NT
10
NSW
0
ACT
0 - 14
15 - 34
35 - 54
55 - 74
75 +
Age Group (Years)
Figure 2 Claims under item 91822 made for all patients
There had been 24% more consultations claimed for female
Item 91832 (Initial video conferencing)
patients under the subsequent telephone item (median: 6,919 (IQR 2,233-31,791) than male patients, who claimed
It was reported that most claims were submitted in Victoria
4,859 consultations (IQR 1,280 - 18,954) (Figure 3).
(38%), where 1,833 claims were made per capita, this
Victorian females reported the highest proportion of claims,
reflected the population’s significant uptake of the initial
representing 14% of claims. Females had a higher reported
videoconferencing service. The Northern Territory had the
uptake compared to males across all States and Territories.
lowest number of claims at this time. However, the lowest per capita uptake was reported in Queensland at 565 claims per capita.
Across the age groups, the highest uptake of item 91823 was observed among patients 35 to 54 years old, with a median uptake of 2,131. The lowest uptake was observed
Australia experienced a high uptake of the initial
among 0-14-year-olds, with a median of 314 claims. A
videoconferencing telehealth service, particularly among
comparison of the uptake across States and territories
females, who had a 16% higher uptake than males
showed that New South Wales had the highest rate of
(Figure 5). The median number of reported claims for
uptake by age group (Figure 4) for those aged 35 to 54 who
female patients was 10,984 (IQR 2,030-29,612), and for
received a telephone consultation within the second year
male patients, 10,773 (IQR 2,239-20,999).
of the observation period (9% of all claims were reported under this category). The Northern Territory reported the
It was observed that individuals aged 55 to 74 had the
lowest number of consultations among those aged 75 and
highest uptake of the initial video conferencing item, with
older (Figures 3-4).
a median of 4320 (IQR 675-8056), representing 34% of all claims (Figure 6). Victorians aged 55 and 74 had the highest reported number of claims during the observation period. The Northern Territory’s 0 to 14 year-olds were the least likely to use the initial video conferencing item
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
140
120 Male 100 Female 80
60
40
20
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
(Figures 5-6).
WA 120 VIC 100 TAS 80 SA 60 QLD 40 NT 20 NSW 0
0 ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
States and Territories
Figure 3 Claims made by male and female patients under item 91823
0 - 14
15 - 34
35 - 54
55 - 74
ACT
75 +
Age Group (Years)
Figure 4 Claims under item 91823 made for all patients AJOMS Volume 1 2024 |
163
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
140
120 Male 100 Female 80
60
40
20
0 ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
States and Territories
Figure 5 Claims made by male and female patients under item 91832
first year of the observation period, representing 11% of all
Item 91833 (Subsequent video conferencing)
the uptake for the item. It was found that Victorian patients were most likely to use the subsequent video conferencing item, where 10,240
There was a high uptake of the subsequent video
consultation claims were recorded per capita. In the
conferencing item among individuals aged 55 to 74, with
Northern Territory, 1,959 claims were reported per capita;
a median uptake of 25,256 (IQR 5,240-57,488) (Figure 8).
this was the lowest uptake reported under this item across
The lowest uptake was observed in the 0 to 14-year-old
all States and Territories.
age group, where the median uptake was 1,721 (IQR 3014,665).
The number of claims for the subsequent video conferencing item involving women was 18% higher than
The highest uptake by age group across all states and
those involving men (Figure 7). For female patients, the
territories was seen among Victorians aged 55 to 74, which
median number of telehealth consultations claimed under
was reported between May 2020 and April 2021. This
item 91833 was 74,301 (IQR 14,091-185,514). Male
group accounted for approximately 7% of the total use
patients’ median claim number was 58,354.5 (IQR 13,824-
of the item by age group across all states and territories
131,567). Uptake by gender across States and Territories
(Figures 7-8).
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
was highest among Victorian females; this occurred in the
WA 120 VIC 100 TAS 80 SA 60 QLD 40 NT 20 NSW 0 0 - 14
15 - 34
35 - 54
55 - 74
75 +
ACT
Age Group (Years) Figure 6 Claims under item 91832 made for all patients
164 | AJOMS Volume 1 2024
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
700
600 Male 500 Female 400
300
200
100
0 ACT
NSW
NT
QLD
SA
TAS
VIC
WA
States and Territories Figure 7 Claims made by male and female patients under item 91833
700
Consultation Services Claimed N (Thousands)
WA 600 VIC 500 TAS 400
SA
300
QLD
200
NT
100
NSW
ACT
0 0 - 14
15 - 34
35 - 54
55 - 74
75 +
Age Group (Years) Figure 8 Claims made under item 91833 made for all patients
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DISCUSSION Telehealth services were welcome across Australia during
The analysis of item claims revealed that females are more
the COVID-19 pandemic, with uptake trends remaining
likely to use specialist telehealth services, irrespective of
steady across States and Territories, as reflected in MBS
the telehealth consult type. Female patients tend to be
claims made under a specialist telehealth item between
more likely to receive medical treatment than males.22
May 2020 and May 2022. The current study revealed that
However, they also experience significant difficulties
the uptake of all follow-up items was significantly higher
accessing healthcare.12,22 The higher female uptake in
than the initial items. As patient needs and demands
specialist telehealth services suggests that telehealth
evolve, and higher level of patient satisfaction is met, it is
is advantageous to female patients22. It is speculated
likely that future use of MBS specialist telehealth services
that more women are taking advantage of specialist
will increase. The future integration of telehealth into
telehealth services, which may enable them to remain more
specialties such as oral and maxillofacial surgery is
autonomous and in control of their healthcare.22
16
expected to increase as a result. As such, it is important to 7
plan and ensure that the supply and demand of services,
Across all age groups, it was observed that those aged
and providers in specialties such as oral and maxillofacial
35 to 54 used telephone services more frequently.
surgery are not at odds. 5,17
Comparatively, videoconferencing items were more popular among those aged 55 to 74. These findings are
All states and territories demonstrated a higher uptake
consistent with findings by the Australian Bureau of
of follow-up items than initial items. As evidenced by the
Statistics concerning patient experiences with telehealth
higher number of claims submitted towards the subsequent
services, showing that older age groups are more likely to
items, there is a potential need and demand for these
use telehealth services than younger age groups.23 This
items18 . This finding implies that patients and providers
trend supports the assertion that older age groups favour
are increasingly seeking out or providing these services,
the convenience of telehealth. 8 As discussed in previous
which could be due to various factors, such as improved
literature, factors related to accessibility and disease
access to healthcare services, higher levels of awareness,
burden play a crucial role in this higher use of telehealth
or provider preferences as prior studies demonstrated the
among these population groups.10 As older adults
effectiveness of telehealth in oral and maxillofacial surgery
experience high morbidity, telehealth becomes increasingly
in reducing accessibility issues for patients.6, 18,19,20
convenient, particularly for managing ongoing treatments on a self-directed management plan. 8,25 Taking into account
State and territory trends in specialist telehealth services
the needs of an aging population and female patients, the
further reinforce the need and demand to provide equitable
use of telehealth is expected to continue to increase in these
access9. Across most telehealth items, the Northern
groups. For future telehealth implementation, it is critical
Territory had the lowest rate of claim submissions per
to understand how gender and age uptake of specialist
capita. This can be explained by differences in population
telehealth services are interdependent with accessibility,
sizes, but also by the fact that the Northern Territory has
technology infrastructure, and digital health literacy.25
the highest proportion of Indigenous residents among its
Policymakers and providers may need to tailor to the needs
population who are faced with significant accessibility
of these patients accordingly.
barriers to healthcare. 9, 21 It has been noted in prior studies that minority populations are less likely to use telehealth.22
The trends in specialist telehealth claims during the
This phenomenon could have contributed to the lower rate
COVID-19 pandemic between May 2020 and May 2022
of telehealth claim submissions in the Northern Territory,
provide insights into the integration of telehealth in
highlighting the importance of developing strategies to
specialties fields such as oral and maxillofacial surgery.
increase telehealth use among minority populations.
Developing policies in response to these trends may
22
These findings highlight the potential for telehealth to
facilitate efficient resource allocation and contribute to
significantly enhance access to oral and maxillofacial
meeting the demand for oral and maxillofacial services. 5,17
services in Australia, thereby increasing equitable access to
As telehealth uptake varies between gender and age
care for all Australians. Oral and maxillofacial consultants
groups across states and territories, to maximise
have cited an increase in accessibility as a significant
the impact, telehealth strategies should be designed
contributor to providing telehealth services to their
considering population needs, particularly concerning
patients.20
accessibility.
166 | AJOMS Volume 1 2024
Following the findings of this study, future implementation
Limitations
of specialist telehealth services will focus on the development and planning of solutions based on areas
The MBS data were aggregated; therefore, it is not possible
of greatest need. Telehealth solutions that improve
to identify and provide information about the experiences
accessibility, ensure adequate technology infrastructure,
and outcomes of individual outcomes. For instance, the
and address privacy and quality concerns from both
number (multiple) of telehealth consultations attended
patients and providers should be prioritised. Incorporating
by a single patient for any item could not be established,
features that allow for remote monitoring and follow-up
which would be useful for health professionals to assess
into telehealth solutions will ensure better communication
the effectiveness of telehealth services accurately. Further
by fostering a stronger patient-clinician relationship.
research should ensure that the telehealth policy for oral
Providing education and training to patients experiencing
and maxillofacial surgery is based on sound logic and is
the greatest inequalities in access can be essential to
reflective of current reality. Qualitative research methods
ensuring the highest level of healthcare post-pandemic.25,26
can facilitate a deeper understanding of the motivations
In addition, establishing practice guidelines based on the
and barriers associated with MBS specialist telehealth
specific needs of a particular population can facilitate
items.
telehealth services implementation. Nevertheless, it 26
is important also to examine the influence of oral and maxillofacial consultants. Their perceptions of use and decisions to offer these telehealth services post-pandemic may assist in providing better healthcare for oral and maxillofacial patients of different needs.
CONCLUSION This study illustrated variations in the uptake of different
Acknowledgements
specialist telehealth services by patients of different age and gender groups. In order to identify the most effective
This study has been generously funded by ANZAOMS
integration policies and initiatives for telehealth availability
Research and Education Foundation and the Trust.
and accessibility that can benefit both patients and providers, it is important for future studies to examine the consultants’ perceptions of use and their decisions to offer
Conflict of interest statement
telehealth services for oral and maxillofacial surgery and further the patient’s perceptions of using the services.
There are no declared competing interests.
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2.
Abbas B, Wajahat M, Saleem Z, et al. Role of teledentistry in COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide comparative analysis among dental professionals. Eur J Dent 2020;14(S 01), S116-S122.
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Robiony M, Bocin E, Sembronio S, et al. Working in the era of COVID-19: An organization model for maxillofacial surgery based on telemedicine and video consultation. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2021; 49(4):323-328.
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4.
Australian Government Department of Health. COVID-19 Temporary MBS Telehealth Services: Dental Practitioners in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Australian Government Department of Health. http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/ content/0C514FB8C9FBBEC7CA25852E00223AFE/$File/Factsheet-COVID-19-Dental-28July21.pdf (Accessed 20 September 2023)
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168 | AJOMS Volume 1 2024
2024 APRIL Volume 1 | Issue 1
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