A Pandemic Forces United States to Leap Forward

摘要

I have learned that what seemed just too difficult a month ago has proven to be essential in a COVID-19 world, and it is both workable and challenging. The ability to assess patients via video telemedicine is only as strong as the weakest link in a chain of connected apps and devices that the young and those in midlife have generally already mastered, but some seniors can find them either unavailable or possible but indecipherable. We successfully use the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant doxy.me system from Doximity. We have found it invaluable to have clinic staff contact the patient ahead of time and get them to test one the multiple ways we have to connect to the patient.1 That staff effort is worthwhile in order to streamline the visit and reduce time wasted on connectivity logistics.