{"id":"51c37a5f-ca95-40be-ae9c-33b9966ecadc","slug":"whatsapp-as-a-remote-patient-monitoring-tool-in-low-and-middle-income-countries-experience-from-the-cerebrovascular-surgery-service-in-iraq","title":"WhatsApp as a remote patient-monitoring tool in low- and middle-income countries: Experience from the cerebrovascular surgery service in Iraq","authors":["Samer S. Hoz","Mustafa Ismail","Mohamed M. Arnaout","Teeba A. Al-Ageely","Aktham O. Al-Khafaji","Mustafa M. Altaweel","Luis Rafael Moscote-Salazar"],"abstract":"Background: The integration of telemedicine into healthcare has gained momentum, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where patient follow-up remains a significant challenge. Factors contributing to patients being lost to follow-up include systemic issues and individual sociocultural and economic variables. This letter discusses the use of WhatsApp as a remote patient-monitoring tool in the context of cerebrovascular surgery in Iraq. Summary: The authors describe their experience using WhatsApp for patient communication post-surgery, which has been implemented for over 200 cases. This system allows patients to report complications, ask questions, and confirm their well-being, thereby ensuring continuity of care and reducing the burden on outpatient clinics. Despite concerns regarding patient confidentiality and the workload on neurosurgeons, the system has proven effective, especially during the pandemic. Conclusion: Telemedicine platforms like WhatsApp offer an affordable and efficient means of remote patient monitoring in LMICs. While there are inherent limitations, the benefits of maintaining patient communication and care continuity outweigh the risks, particularly in resource-constrained environments. Keywords: telemedicine, WhatsApp, patient monitoring, cerebrovascular surgery, low-income countries, remote follow-up, healthcare systems","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/placeholders/specialty/general-neurosurgery.png","publishDate":"2022-09-09T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_653_2022","categories":["General Neurosurgery","Letter to the Editor"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/11858/SNI-13-408.pdf"}