By Betsy Levy, Vice President
Seemingly overnight, all eyes began focusing on telemedicine (or “telehealth”) and there’s a good reason why.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and government officials nationwide urge the public to stay home, they’re also encouraging those who are sick to avoid in-person treatments or assessments unless they’re deemed a medical emergency. It’s no surprise, then, that the coronavirus epidemic has created an opportunity for telehealth providers to promote their virtual technologies that deliver individualized, high-quality care remotely.
Telehealth as a concept has changed drastically since its inception. About 50 years ago, a few hospitals began experimenting with virtual medical care delivery to reach patients in remote locations. As a result of technological advances over the last few decades, telehealth is now used by a number of healthcare facilities like hospitals and physician offices across the country.
How are healthcare companies today delivering care remotely? California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) locations in San Francisco – part of the (client) Sutter Health family – encourage patients to use video visits if they’re experiencing cold and flu symptoms. This offers convenient access to care from home, relieving some of the pressure from front-line clinicians if medical facilities begin to experience a surge in patients.
Another LCI client with a telehealth solution is the Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), a leader in brain injury rehabilitation with locations throughout California and Texas. CNS recently pivoted in the delivery of its integrated therapeutic services which include counseling, speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, to name a few.
Based on guidance from the CDC and local health officials, CNS is now remotely delivering the same high-quality, individualized treatment to people recovering from brain injuries via innovative modalities.
During these unprecedented times, companies of all types are finding ways to adjust, including the healthcare industry. Have you or someone you know used a telehealth service recently? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below.
Betsy: great blog and it points to how post-COVID 19, our world will continue to change. I trust that Telehealth will become a normal way of delivering medical care for many more people. Cheers, David
Thank you David. No debating that telehealth will continue to grow in popularity and become an integral component in the future delivery of healthcare for a wide variety of patients.
I’ve been doing telehealth for routine issues for quite a while – I think the less we’re in doctors’ offices surrounded by other sick folks, the better! And this absolutely needs to catch on in pediatrics. I cannot tell you how many times I went to the pediatrician for a “well-baby” visit and walked into a waiting room full of runny noses and coughing.
We are so fortunate to have technology tools such as telehealth, particularly now.
Insightful piece, and thank you for showcasing the power of telehealth at Centre for Neuro Skills!
Excellent blog post, Betsy. It’s been a long time coming, but I think that, finally, telehealth is here to stay. Another tool in the medical arsenal.