$1.00
September 10, 2020
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
EnglewoodHerald.net
VOLUME 100 | ISSUE 29
Telehealth is ‘here to stay’ Local providers reflect on patient care during pandemic BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The move comes a day after school officials told 60 students and five staff members to self-quarantine after a student tested positive for the virus. Because Tri-County Health Department officials believe the two cases were contracted separately away
Back in February, many health-care providers in Colorado relied only sparingly on telehealth, or virtual medical visits. Only about 10% of appointments were online across all of Kaiser Permanente. Similarly, only 10% to 15% of visits were virtual for some Centura providers like Dr. Oswaldo Grenardo. And SCL Health, which had not yet even launched its telehealth operation, was faced with the task of rolling out a telehealth operation almost overnight when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, said Dr. Amy Scanlan, Front Range medical director and family medicine physician. But after the pandemic prompted health providers nationwide to rely heavily on telehealth, providers say the practice got them through the unprecedented crisis — and will play a major role in the industry’s future, with patients opting for virtual options even with in-person options available again. As of August, 60% to 70% of Kaiser Permanente appointments were held via telehealth, said Wendy Gozansky, a Kaiser geriatrician and Kaiser’s vice president of quality. At Grenardo’s and Scanlan’s practices, virtual numbers aren’t quite as high as Kaiser’s. Grenardo estimated about half of his patients still opt for virtual visits. Scanlan estimated that
SEE HERITAGE, P11
SEE TELEHEALTH, P14
Police officers from Denver and Englewood, as well as social workers from All Health Network, speak to people staying in the homeless camp just north of the Denver/Englewood boundary on Sept. 2. PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
Sadness, uncertainty in homeless camp over slaying Police investigate fatal stabbing on popular bike path BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Englewood Police continue to investigate a brazen daylight knife
attack along a popular bike path that left Joe Hix, 32, dead on Aug. 25. Police are seeking three men seen in a still image from a security camera near the intersection of the Little Dry Creek bike path and South Platte River Drive as “persons of interest” in the case, according to an Aug. 26 bulletin from Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. Hix had been living in a sprawling homeless camp just inside
Denver city limits beside the South Platte River a few blocks to the north, according to residents of the camp. “He was a good kid,” said Terry, who asked that her last name be withheld. “He was always helping out.” Terry recalled Hix bringing her jugs of water and first aid supplies. SEE VICTIM, P6
Heritage suspends in-person classes after two COVID cases Students will transition to online learning until Sept. 14 BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Heritage High School is transitioning to all-online learning until
Sept. 14 after a staff member tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Littleton Public Schools announced on Sept. 2. Tri-County Health Department investigators have determined 40 students and 20 staff members were “close contacts” and should quarantine for 14 days, according to a letter sent to parents.
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 23
CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH PEOPLE IN NEED Building community through gifts, cash-free exchanges P12