In this episode of HOPA Now, President David DeRemer hosts a panel discussion regarding the increased need for telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel consists of three well-informed doctors that are representing both the East and West coasts.  Eve Segal, PharmD, BCOP is the Lead Clinical Oncology Pharmacist at the University of Washington Medical Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle, WA.  Maurice Alexander, Pharm.D., BCOP, CPP is a Clinical Manager Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Services at UNC Chapel Hill, and John Valgus, Pharm.D. MHA, BCOP, CPP is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy at UNC Chapel Hill.  They discuss the need that COVID-19 has created to rethink traditional patient care, address various implementation strategies for telehealth, and offer a look at the potential future of telehealth.

 

In this episode you will learn:

What did telehealth look like before COVID-19?

● Telemedicine has always been part of a traditional practice, but concerns about patient relationships and access to technology limited full adaptation of telehealth.

● Prior to COVID-19, UNC only conducted 25 telehealth visits per month.

● Telehealth visits were limited by a narrow set of eligibility requirements.

 

Implementation strategies for telehealth

● The adaptation of telehealth is now essential in order to deliver care as safely as possible.

● Telehealth care at UWA is currently limited to those who have been credentialed, and they are working to expand telehealth credentials to all oncologists.

● At UNC, AmWell has helped meet the increasing need to expand telehealth services.

● Telemedicine platforms have improved exponentially because physicians, pharmacists, and hospital administrators are now all on board.

 

Rethinking traditional patient care

● Telehealth tends to improve care as patients feel more comfortable asking questions in a personal environment.

● More dedicated patient education sessions allow for increased preparation for treatment.

● Telemedicine offers increased convenience for patients but also requires improved coordination of care and lab testing.

● Staffing models have remained largely unchanged through the transition to telehealth.

● COVID-19 has forced us to break down the barriers that have limited the use of telehealth in the past.

 

Platforms that support telehealth

● Health and human services technology rules have changed to allow doctors to use any platform including Skype for Business, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Zoom.

● Zoom offers a HIPPA-based platform that includes a virtual waiting room.

● American Well offers a telehealth solution that can be embedded into your patients’ health records.

● Doximity allows doctors to connect with patients with minimal steps.

● Security and user-friendliness need to be the two biggest priorities for selecting successful platforms.

 

Looking to the future of healthcare

● The slow reopening of states will allow hospitals to offer elective outpatient procedures. 

● Pharmacies have the opportunity to embrace telemedicine and to offer best practices for their patients.

● The increased convenience and safety measures offered by telehealth benefit patients in a way that can and should be sustained beyond COVID-19.

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

HOPA

AmWell

Zoom Healthcare Plan

Doximity

 

Quotes:

“In the past month, the culture around telemedicine has completely changed. It went from a nice option to something that is absolutely necessary.” — John Valgus

 

“Our leadership has recognized that we need to adapt in order to deliver care as safely as possible.” — Eve Segal

 

“Telemedicine gives us the opportunity to safely manage patients with an even higher level of quality than in the past.” — John Valgus

 

“Telehealth is an excellent, convenient service that should sustain itself beyond the time of COVID-19” — Maurice Alexander