■ Healthcare
Continued From Page 12 therapist . A rescue squad was dispatched to the residence . The patient ’ s mother was assessed and brought to our hospital for evaluation . It was determined that she was suffering from depression , recently lost her job and was feeling hopeless . To ease her emotional pain , she took a dangerous combination of medications . Mom was admitted and , after a few days , was able to return to her family . Mom and daughter now receive family counseling and attend a support group for those struggling with depression .
Englewood Health By James McGinty , M . D ., Chief of Surgery and Surgical Services
COVID‐19 has presented many challenges , but one positive outcome has been the success of telemedicine , especially with bariatric patients . Preparing for weight-loss surgery takes months and includes initial and educational visits , as well as consults with nutritionists , psychologists and the surgical care team . Traditionally , each of these visits required patients to be evaluated in the office . As obesity is one of the biggest risk factors for coronavirus , bariatric patients are more susceptible . They also often have limited mobility and live with arthritis and back pain . One patient of mine , residing at an assisted living facility due to her weight and joint conditions , had to be brought in on a stretcher to see me . Prior to the emergence of telemedicine , we would have to schedule an ambulance service for transport to see the patient . Using telemedicine has allowed us to improve convenience and efficiency by conducting interviews and providing educational material and necessary care remotely , ultimately increasing patient satisfaction while minimizing time spent in high-traffic areas and barriers to care .
Hackensack Meridian Health By Thomas Bader , M . D ., Vice President of Medical Quality
The pros of telehealth are simple — it creates a convenient way for patients to receive care without needing to leave home . Consumers are accustomed to high levels of convenience in all aspects of life — healthcare has been behind other service industries in providing convenience , but we are surely catching up . During the height of COVID‐19 , we launched telehealth in several new ways : we expanded access to our 24 / 7 on-demand urgent care telehealth platform called Convenient Care NOW . This served as an important vehicle for patients to access care and avoid unnecessary emergency room visits . Patients could use a smart phone app to connect to a physician . Telehealth also supports the healthcare evolution toward the right care at the right time in the right place . Hackensack Meridian Health anticipates that telehealth will remain a vital part of total healthcare services moving forward . There are plans to continue expansion of telehealth services on the inpatient and outpatient side . Expanding tele-behavioral health alone is a huge opportunity at a time when behavioral health services are in such high demand . Our goal is to continue to improve the patient experience with respect to telehealth and their digital interaction with our network .
Holy Name Medical Partners By Luke Eyerman , M . D ., Medical Director of Transitional Care
Our clinicians used telemedicine to screen and triage patients for COVID‐19 and monitor thousands of patients at home who tested positive but could safely quarantine there while they recovered . By communicating regularly via video chats , and by reviewing their vital signs with home blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters , we kept apprised of their progress and could have them come for in-person office visits or to the ED if symptoms worsened . Non- COVID patients also used telemedicine to receive medical care from their personal physicians and renew their medications . Going forward , we are expanding NorthJerseyTelemedicine . com to provide around-the-clock coverage by providers and enhancing its use in home care and rehabilitation therapy . There is a large potential for growth as the ease of telemedicine is appreciated by patients who have mobility issues and cannot leave their homes ; those with social or
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The market for non-emergency telemedicine visits in the United States is estimated at $ 400 million , approximately one-third of the $ 1.25 billion in annual U . S . ambulatory care visits .
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