2020 STD Prevention Conference: Disrupting Epidemics and Dismantling Disparities in the Time of COVID-19

The Limitation of Accessing Hospital Services Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study of the Telephone Triage to Re-Organize the Access to a Center for Sexual Health in Northwest Italy

“…Moreover, a shortage of staff caused by the diversion of doctors and nurses to COVID-dedicated departments has further worsened the STI care reducing hospital accessibility and increasing waiting times. [5][6][7] To deal with this dramatic situation, the major SH center in the North-West of Italy, the Center for Sexual Health of Turin (CeMuSS), adopted an exclusive telephone-only triage system to optimize both the very limited personnel availability and to avoid crowding in the STI clinic. In this pilot study, we evaluate the performance of the nursing telephone triage system for the adequacy of clinical pathways for symptomatic patients.…”

“…The health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed strict measures aimed at reducing the overcrowding of health facilities, and many STI services opted for a telephone-only booking service or through other IT means (apps, e-mail etc.). Moreover, a shortage of staff caused by the diversion of doctors and nurses to COVID-dedicated departments has further worsened the STI care reducing hospital accessibility and increasing waiting times 5–7 …”