The Catalyst Issue 28 | November 2017 | Page 7

Health is advancing that idea to bring primary and specialty care to patients in places that are convenient to them, such as in their homes through web- enabled patient visits. This is especially beneficial for patients who live in rural areas, or those who need to have frequent interactions with their physicians to manage a chronic illness. Given some of the barriers to telemedicine in Texas, clinical and administrative leadership at Baylor Scott & White participated in efforts to ease statewide restrictions on electronic patient visits (or E-visits) that limited eligibility to only those patients with a documented annual in-person visit with their provider. Subsequent legislative changes have opened up access to services like E-visits to more patients. E-visits involve a short online asynchronous intelligent interview for health conditions of a less serious nature. The results of that interview are then sent to a clinician for determination and diagnosis, with a treatment plan ready within an hour if the condition is appropriate for online care. “For the right conditions, E-visits are excellent,” says Glen Couchman, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer for the Baylor Scott & White – Central Texas Division. He helped lead the effort to amend the legislation, meeting with the Texas What is a primary care provider? Primary care providers are trained to accurately evaluate and treat people for a broad variety of conditions that affect all ages. Every day they care for acute illnesses and injuries, chronic conditions (like diabetes and heart failure), and are also experts in preventive care (with a goal of keeping their patients healthy and well). They also play an important role in coordinating and managing specialty care. Within the Primary Care specialty are subspecialties that provide slightly different types of care. FAMILY MEDICINE (also called Family Practice) physicians see children and adults. They complete a three-year residency, are board certified, update their training annually, and must be recertified every 10 years. GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE physicians usually treat only adults. PEDIATRICIANS treat a wide variety of conditions in children. GERIATRICIANS are trained in internal or family medicine to care for the complex needs of older adults. ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS (also Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants) provide care and treatment while working under the close supervision of a doctor. They have been certified to perform many of the same tasks as a doctor. bswhealth.com | Fall 17 THE CATALYST 7