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Approach to the telemedicine physical examination: partnering with patients

Stephen W Russell and Maja K Artandi
Med J Aust 2022; 216 (3): . || doi: 10.5694/mja2.51398
Published online: 21 February 2022

Medical providers who learn physical examination techniques early in medical training can spend years honing the craft of observation, palpation and auscultation. When performed knowledgeably and well, the physical examination offers clues for diagnosis. It also offers connections with patients. Both doctors and patients benefit from this hands‐on ritual of examination.1 The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, however, has threatened this connection.


  • 1 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
  • 2 Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States


Correspondence: swrussell@uabmc.edu

Acknowledgements: 

Maja Artandi and Stephen Russell receive grant funding (2019–2024) from the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Reimagining Residency initiative as part of the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium. The content reflects the views of the authors and does not purport to reflect the views of the AMA or any member of the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium. While AMA grant funding supports the authors’ educational initiatives, the funding did not play a role in the planning, writing or publication of this manuscript.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

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