While virtual healthcare, also known as telehealth, existed long before COVID-19, it greatly expanded during the pandemic, and it looks like it’s here to stay. While some aspects of healthcare require in-person treatment and evaluation, the convenience and ease of access provided by telehealth benefits both patient and provider.
Dr. Cherie D. Bragg, medical director for West Jefferson Medical Center Primary Care, said telehealth makes it easier to reach patients where they are without risking exposure to potentially harmful diseases. She added that before March 2020, telehealth access was very limited within the regional market, but that West Jeff “went from zero telehealth visits to 100% utilization within the first month of the pandemic.” Bragg said that as time went on, and patients began to come back to the office, they’re still able to offer this service to patients who are home-bound due to COVID-19 or other illnesses that make travel to the doctor difficult.
“Telehealth has become an integral part in the way we practice,” she said.
Smaller practices are also using telehealth services to reach patients. Dr. Lana Ford, founder and CEO of High Level Speech & Hearing Center, noted that while some of her patients prefer in-person treatment, almost half of them choose telehealth — and many actually seem to do better in a virtual environment. As a healthcare provider, Ford said that telehealth has also helped reduce the impacts of “no shows” by making it easier for people to make their appointments. “We’ve utilized telehealth to increase access to speech and hearing services particularly for working people,” she said.
Telehealth can also save patients time and money. For Dr. MarkAlain Déry, who works with people living with HIV, that’s one of the biggest benefits of telehealth.
“I would say 95% of my patients are working, and for them, [telehealth] has been the greatest thing because they’re able to not only see their doctor and have a meaningful doctor’s visit, they’re also able to not have to take time off work.”
While the way it’s implemented or offered as an option varies from provider to provider, health system to health system, telehealth appears to be here to stay. There are some treatments, however, that will always require an in-person visit.
“Although we’ve done a great job incorporating the personal touch into our telehealth practices, there’s still nothing like the actual human touch,” said Ford. “In a world of automation and bots, the human touch just cannot be replaced.”
Telehealth makes it more convenient for us to provide services to our patients at their convenience. Travel time and unexpected inconveniences are no longer a barrier. In the past, expensive medical software was required for telehealth appointments. Now, with commonly used software platforms such as Zoom and Google Suite, it makes it much easier for health care providers to provide best practice healthcare from anywhere.”
Dr. Lana Ford, Founder and CEO of High Level Speech & Hearing Center
Dr. Cherie
D. Bragg
Medical Director
West Jefferson Medical Center Primary Care, LCMC Health
I think telehealth will continue to grow and expand. I like the ability to care for patients who might not otherwise get the best care by being handled over the phone. Having video capability also gives me the ability to still have that personal interaction with patients, even though they are not in the room with me. In the future, patients will have more access to an “on-demand” visit. It will be just like ordering online! You can do your visit at home in your PJs, which is very convenient, especially if you do not feel well.
Dr. MarkAlain Déry
Access Health Louisiana
Telehealth has just been a tremendous addition and aid in my practice. During the pandemic, without it, my practice would have crumbled. As an infectious disease doctor, taking care of people with COVID-19 keeping people at home was incredibly important.
