Connect Me to Ruleville

The new coronavirus is driving innovations in health care

By Robyn Marlow

The old saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. When new problems arise, we create new things to address the challenge. COVID-19 is causing hospitals and clinics to innovate like never before.

Thanks to changes made in Washington, D.C. last week, Medicaid and most commercial payers are now allowing enrollees to use telehealth — an option that previously was available only to people living in remote areas and for a specific, short checkup. Many insurance companies are waiving co-pays and deductibles for telehealth visits.

“This is a big deal,” said Joanie Perkins, our Chief Compliance Officer. “Patient safety has always been our number one concern. Now, telehealth is allowing us to check in on patients while keeping everyone as safe as possible through social distancing.”

Telehealth at NSMC

Telehealth isn’t exactly new, as we have been using it for a while here at NSMC. It is one of the ways we have been able to provide cutting edge medical care for our patients in remote areas for years. And it has been a good way for medical professionals to connect with patients from a distance. Today that is more important than ever.

Just like making an appointment, patients call to schedule a time to talk about their health with a doctor or nurse practitioner by phone, Facetime, Zoom, etc… The doctor or nurse practitioner is able to asses them on video and determine if they need to come into the clinic.

“Telephone is fine if that is all the patient has. But the video works better,” Joanie told us. “We know our patients, and we can tell a lot just by looking at them.”

Telehealth can be used to save patients from the risk of exposure during this pandemic. Health systems, insurers, and doctors see this as a way to allow people to practice social distancing while reducing the spread of the disease and protecting healthcare workers. And it’s not just NSMC that is getting in on the telehealth trend. Millions of Americans are seeking care by connecting with a doctor electronically, many for the first time.

“If a person is showing symptoms of elevated temperature, shortness of breath and/or cough, they should call us right away,” Joanie told us. “We are screening everyone prior to coming into the clinic. But having these telehealth consultations are a huge help.”

Take Me To Ruleville… by Phone or Video

Some experts are predicting the changes that Medicare and the insurance companies recently made will last well beyond the coronavirus outbreak. Of course, we will always want people to continue to say, “Take me to Ruleville”. We are excited that you can do that by phone or video.

If you need to set up a Telehealth visit with Sunflower Rural Health Clinic, call us at (662) 756-4024.