Dr. Casale:Telemedicine keeps patients, providers connected

This weekend was both holiday and celebration of faith for many recognizing Passover and Easter, but these traditions were observed differently this year as COVID-19 kept families physically distant while they came together in spirit.

Instead of gathering around the dinner table, many families used technology to keep in touch, taking advantage of programs like FaceTime, Skype and Zoom to see one another while having conversations that typically take place in close quarters but have been made remote by the pandemic.

Mary and I (and since Kate posted it on Facebook- lots of friends) saw our granddaughters Rowan and Eve hunt for their Easter baskets over a video link.

And this same kind of technology that’s keeping families and spiritual communities connected during this unprecedented time (but with an added layer of information security,) also keeps doctors, nurses and other health care providers connected to their patients.

Telemedicine — a practice that allows providers and patients to interact using secure video technology when they can’t be in the same room — has gained wider use in recent years. It helps chronically ill and older patients connect with their doctors when regular trips to the doctor’s office aren’t possible, and it helps medical specialists care for patients when in-person consultation is prevented by geographical or medial circumstance.

Many hospitals and health systems were using telemedicine in some capacity prior to COVID-19 reaching the United States, but the physical distancing and isolation practices deployed when the virus began to spread in our communities has led to accelerated use of this mode of care.

In an effort to offer patients continued access to primary and specialty care while also slowing the spread of COVID-19, Geisinger recently expanded its telehealth services to include primary care and more than 70 specialties.

Patients can speak with their providers in real time, using video chat technology on a secure network that protects their personal health information. A wide range of conditions, including colds and flus, rashes, diabetes, mental health, neurological conditions and many more, can be treated by utilizing telemedicine visits.

Providers can answer a patient’s questions and address any concerns, much like an in-person office visit but from the comfort of the patient’s home.

Telemedicine visits are accessible through a smartphone (iPhone or Android), a tablet, or a computer with a webcam and speaker, along with a high-speed internet connection.

To find out if telehealth is right for you or if your provider is offering virtual visits, call 866-530-6925. Patients who have an upcoming appointment with a Geisinger provider can contact their doctor’s office directly and ask about the availability of a virtual visit. Telehealth services are available to Geisinger Health Plan members at no cost through June 15, and many other insurers are waiving copays for this service.

To learn more about telemedicine, visit geisinger.org/telemedicine.

During this time when staying physically apart from one another is vital in slowing the spread of COVID-19, it’s important that we stay emotionally connected. Social isolation can have a negative effect on mental health and can lead to anxiety and depression.

To ensure you’re staying mentally and physically well, use available technology to keep in touch with your family, friends and neighbors. Check on your loved ones; comfort each other; make one another laugh and smile, and we’ll get through this together.

And if you have chronic medical conditions that require regular care or you need routine specialty care, it’s just as important to stay connected to your doctor or care team, even if you can’t see them in person. We have the technology to provide care during this pandemic, so call and ask about it, if you need an appointment.

Excuse me … it’s time to FaceTime the girls … Evie’s got something to show me.