Coordinating Care During Coronavirus
For many Americans the Coronavirus pandemic has turned their world upside-down. With schools closing, nursing homes in lockdown, sports seasons cancelled and local grocery stores looking like the TV aisle post-Black Friday; it is clear many are panicking. It’s no wonder that patients with a case of the sniffles are seeking treatment for Coronavirus. These are confusing times and people are scared. While “social distancing” has been mandated in many cities and towns, patients are still flocking to walk-in clinics all over the country to be tested. In some areas, patients are waiting as much as 4 hours but turned away as they do not meet the criteria to be tested.
Sick patients filling up a waiting room will exacerbate the spread of the virus, so what can we do? Many providers and patients are turning to telemedicine as an option. From President Trump’s emergency declaration, $50 billion in relief is being made available. One large focus of his address was an emphasis on telemedicine. Unsurprisingly there has been a surge in telehealth use in the wake of the pandemic. By using patient self-reported screening tools and video visits, providers are able to connect with patients to identify those that truly warrant Coronavirus testing.
Unlike most telehealth platforms which are based on the “1-800 Dial A (Random) Doc” approach, Care Convene is practice-focused first. Studies have shown that patients who receive care from a PCP live longer, healthier lives. As we work as a nation to combat this pandemic, Care Convene continues to provide a zero-fee solution available on iPhone and Android. Our staff is registering providers around the clock to get practices up-and-running to combat the crisis. The platform remains a great way for patients’ routine care (i.e. Chronic Disease Management, Prescription Consultation, Asthma, etc.) unrelated to COVID-19 to connect with their provider while in the comfort of their own home. Care Convene can help these patients maintain their care without risking their health.
