PRACTICING REMOTELY
How Providers Have Adjusted to Using Telehealth During COVID-19
T E X A S N U R S I N G M AGA Z I N E | I S S U E 2 , 2 0 2 0
Wide use of telehealth has been historically limited by lower reimbursement rates for providers, regulatory guidelines, and security concerns. In these changed times, however, telehealth has quickly become a new norm. AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC sweeps the world, a lot of media attention has been given to the patients admitted with this virus. However, across the United States, patients are still experiencing heart attacks, still need dialysis, and still rely on crucial medications to function. While some providers have had to temporarily close their doors under stay-at-home orders, other providers have been able to continue serving their community and patients with telehealth. First adopted in the 1960s to monitor the health of astronauts from the ground, telehealth has evolved steadily over the subsequent decades.3 Until now, wide use of telehealth was limited by lower reimbursement rates for providers, regulatory guidelines that vary state to state, and security concerns. However, with many Texans now unable or unwilling to come into the office, telehealth has quickly become a new norm.
QUICK TRANSITIONS “It has drastically changed,” says Mia Painter, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, who has been practicing for over ten years at San Marcus Family Medicine. Her organization already had established telehealth services integrated into their electronic health records, so they were able to shift nearly the entire practice to telehealth quickly. “Prior to COVID-19, we were doing telehealth education for diabetes management. We reduced glucose levels in our patients dramatically, and they enjoyed having access to care without having to come in.” Staff and providers at her clinic found it easy to transition. In a day, the clinic may see between 24-30 patients per provider with extended business hours to accommodate patient schedules. “We still have one nurse practitioner at the clinic for urgent hands-on evaluations, and we are doing drive-up testing for COVID-19,” Painter says. “Everyone
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