
GENERAL THEME
ยท COVID-19 is prompting a huge interest and growth in Telehealth with everyone rushing to acquire Telehealth equipment and expertise
ยท Idaho has relaxed its Telehealth regulations and has issued temporary licenses allowing retired physicians from out of state to provide TeleHealth services for 120 days
ยท Almost 300 physicians have already taken advantage of the temporary licenses and are practicing Telehealth with Idaho residents from outside Idaho
BENEFITS SO FAR
ยท Almost no cancelations of Telehealth appointments, apparently because TeleHealth requires no travel time, effort, or money
ยท Patients seem to open up more on the phone than they do in person
ยท Improved compliance, perhaps because of greater family engagement; when family members listen in on the call theyโre in a better position to assist the patient in following treatment, prescription, and therapy protocols
ยท Even OBI and GI physicians are seeing more compliance and greater connectivity
ยท One physician proudly announced an unintended result in his own practice: โMy dialogue and communication skills have improved dramatically.โ
ยท Several others agreed and said they are seeing and hearing the same things
THE ONLY NEGATIVE
ยท TeleHealth coding is tricky
TWO OTHER THINGS
ยท One physicians said the distraction of COVID is reducing the focus on drugs among his patients with SUDs
ยท Many patients are requesting opioid-free surgeries in order to prevent opioid addiction. The surgeries are still covered by insurance. Instead of opioids, those patients are taking Tylenol before the surgery and practicing breathing techniques.
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