Connecting WithTelehealth Services During COVID-19

摘要

On January 31, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a nationwide public health emergency (PHE) as a result of the 2019 novel corona virus (COVID-19). Since that declaration, federal and state government authorities have issued guidance and waived restrictions on the use of telehealth technologies and services. The government authorities have taken these actions, recognizing the usefulness of telehealth technologies and services in improving access to care, speeding diagnosis and treatment, and limiting the risk of person-to-person spread of COVID-19. Healthcare professionals believe that expanded capacity will help preserve access to in-person care for those in critical need and allow a majority of initial screenings to happen outside of a hospital or other healthcare setting.