Online shopping, virtual concerts or distance learning are just some of the digital advances making their way into our realities. Now telehealth, or virtual medical visits, is an option for more Covenant Health patients. Thousands of patients are now choosing to meet with their doctors remotely using their computers and mobile phones, rather than scheduling in-person office visits.

The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for virtual health and Covenant providers embraced this new technology to limit possible exposures to the new virus and offer patients the care they needed.

“In the spring of 2020, like many healthcare systems, any non-essential medical visits and procedures were cancelled out of an abundance of caution,” said Vamsi Dwaram, MHA, system director of virtual health at Covenant Health. “Patients were concerned about exposure to the new virus and many waited for routine care until we had online options to offer. Now patients are choosing virtual visits.”

To be sure each visit is successful, a staff member helps to walk through the technology with patients before their appointments. This has been especially important for those not normally comfortable with technology. “I can’t say enough good things about the virtual visit with my nurse practitioner,” said one patient. “It’s the way I would like all of my future visits.”

Virtual Health Tips

• Be available prior to your visit to test your device and internet connection with our office staff

• Confirm family members who want to be invited to the conversation since remote calls can involve more than two participants

• Select a quiet, private setting for your appointment

• Prepare any questions for your provider, just as you would for an in-person visit

Unexpected Benefits

This new option also makes it easier for families to join in medical conversations, huddling around their computer together or joining by phone from across the country. Family involvement in medical care often improves outcomes, patient understanding and compliance with recommendations. Daughters or sons of older patients can hear first-hand discussions about lab results or new findings. They are involved in discussion and ask questions by joining the visits virtually.

“My doctor and his medical assistant were fantastic!” said another patient. “They made sure I felt comfortable, answered all of our questions, taking time to address my concerns and even those of my daughter.”

Virtual Medical Visits

And it doesn’t stop there. Virtual health has made its way from the doctor’s office to hospitals and emergency departments across the Covenant Health system. Through technology, doctors in high-demand specialties like psychiatry and neurology can provide excellent care remotely to meet the needs of patients who live in rural settings. Rather than driving hours to in-person appointments or doing without, patients get the stroke or mental health care they need, when and where they need it. “The doctor was great at calling me back and settling my issues, and I was pleased with the whole set up as a whole,” shared another patient.

Virtual consultations are also an option for hospital patients when a neurologist expertise is needed to pinpoint diagnosis or offer additional treatment options. These experts are easily reached by phone or computer to join the medical team. Having added experts available for patients expand the treatment available to patients when the medical system is starved for experts in certain hard-to-recruit specialties.

“It’s the right care at the right time in the right setting,” said Dwaram.