Telehealth
The plan is available at a lower premium than standard PPO plans, and offers a specialist referral process.
Just 36% of people making less than $25,000 say they have access to telehealth, according to a new study, but this percentage increases as income rises.
Leaders from Geisinger, Dartmouth-Hitchcock and other health systems say "transformation" is needed to help providers and their patients weather this storm.
In response to COVID-19, the health system very quickly brought in new telemedicine tech that has enabled 100,000 video visits between March 13 and May 1.
By the end of March, 33% of behavioral health claims for Optum members were for a telehealth visit, compared to 2% prior to COVID-19.
Though mental health professionals say they're mostly pleased with the rapid shift to phone or video services, most plan to return to in-person care once the dangers from COVID-19 have subsided.
Recent data breaches in digital health platforms have raised awareness for privacy protection and questions over who is responsible.
COVID-19
The pandemic has underlined the importance of nurses working together and ensuring we are better prepared for any future crisis, as highlighted during the 'European Nurses Facing COVID-19' webinar hosted by HIMSS.
Hospital medical staff can stream live footage from inpatient units to nursing stations and initiate patient communication without having to physically enter rooms.
Since mid-March, Dr. Mamdouh Riad has been able to see an average of 30 patients per day via the mobile FaceTime integration and has converted 85-90% of patients to telehealth.