I’ve been really thankful that the health emergency status has been extended. I appreciate the efforts at the ACR in advocating for that as well because it really does help my patients. Leaving behind the patients who don’t have smartphones and Wi-Fi access would be a mistake.
Dr. Peoples: I always am concerned about those patients of mine [who] don’t have internet access and wonder how we can get it to them. We’ve tried to think of different programs and how we can get to a place where they would have a strong Wi-Fi connection whether at a community center, or if we can provide the device in terms of the tablet or smartphone. We are constantly trying to think of ways to do that because [some] groups of patients [don’t] have the same benefits as others.
Dr. Jayatilleke: Our hospital and hospitals nearby found that when they were reaching out to patients through the patient portals to schedule them for vaccines, they were getting a really low acceptance rate. When [they] started making phone calls, lo and behold, 80% of people were signing up. It’s important to preserve that access with the audio-only patient.
The Future of Telemedicine
Dr. Hausmann: What does the future of telemedicine look like?
Dr. Peoples: I would build on my whole buffet analogy from earlier with the options. Could we have a visit at a telehealth center or even a home visit where they’re not only seeing one rheumatologist, but maybe they’re seeing a subspecialized rheumatologist [who] has expertise in their disease, like myositis, and we’re both on the call? Or is it multi-specialty [in which] the patient is on the call or at the telehealth center and I’m on the screen—but their dermatologist or pulmonologist is on the screen, too? Can we take the concept of a multi-specialty, multi-disciplinary clinic and put that in the form of a virtual visit?
We tried to think of ways during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve new patient access. We have a triage clinic where patients can do a home video visit [to determine] what’s going on, if and where they need to be seen.
Vanessa Caceres is a medical writer in Bradenton, Fla.
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