Are virtual doctor visits here to stay? Employers and insurers want to keep remote appointments
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Updated: 1:53 PM CDT May 3, 2021
By TOM MURPHY, AP Health Writer
Are virtual doctor visits here to stay? Employers and insurers want to keep remote appointments
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Updated: 1:53 PM CDT May 3, 2021
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HOSPITAL CARE. HEY, IT’S DR. WALKER. OKAY, SO THIS MAY NOT LOOK LIKE A HOSPITAL. HI. CAN YOU SEE ME? EXCELLENT, BUT THIS ACTUALLY IS AN ICU. GIVE US A LITTLE WAVE. THERE YOU GO AS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. OH WONDERFUL SUCH A YOU LOOK FANTASTIC. AND DR. VANESSA WALKER IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF SUTTER HEALTH’S ELECTRONIC. I SEE YOU SO WE CAN TAKE A WELL-TRAINED INTENSIVE CARE UNIT DOCTOR AND PUT THEM RIGHT INTO YOUR HOSPITAL ROOM 300 MILES AWAY WHILE MONITORING PATIENT VITALS AND MEDICAL RECORDS FROM SACRAMENTO THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED THE EICU EICU TO HELP WITH TODAY? WE YOU’D LIKE TO REVIEW THE PATIENT INTO 44 PHYSICIANS AND NURSES ARE VIRTUALLY CHECKING IN WITH PATIENTS IN RE TIME ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 24/7 CONFER SAFETY KNOWING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS WATCHING, YOU KNOW FAR AWAY THOUGH. WE MAY BE FAR AWAY, BUT THEY KNOW THAT WERE THERE CARING FOR PATIENTS AS FAR NORTH AS CRESCENT CITY ALONG THE OREGON BORDER TO AUBURN JACKSON AND AS FAR SOUTH AS LOW SPANOS AND MERCED COUNTY, IT’S VERY DIFFICULT TO TRANSFER A PATIENT FROM SPANOS OR TRACY HOSPITAL TO A LARGER HOSPITAL IF THEY GET REALLY SICK THE EICU AT SUTTER HEALTH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, BUT IT’S BEEN PARTICULARLY CRUCIAL AND TREATING COVID-19 PATIENTS A TWIRL HOSPITALS HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY WHICH TRADITIONALLY LACK CRITICAL CARE SPECIALIST FOR ME, ESPECIALLY I SPEAK SPANISH AND I REALLY ENJOY HELPING THE SPANISH COMMUNITY BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT OF PATIENTS THAT COME IN ESPECIALLY NOT WITH CLOVER THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AREN’T THERE AND THEN I CAN GO IN THE ROOM AND TRANSLATE AND MAKE THEM. COMFORTABLE A SECOND SET OF EYES SAVING PRECIOUS PPE AND REDUCING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE. THE NURSE IS HERE CAN ACTUALLY HELP THE NURSES AT THE BEDSIDE SO THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BRING TWO NURSES IN AT ONE TIME AT A PATIENT’S BEDSIDE WITH THE CLICK OF A MOUSE HAIL. YOU HAVE A GOOD OF YOUR DAY. OKAY.