Using Telehealth to Deliver Care Safely During COVID-19

Necessity is the mother of invention, it's said. The University of Kansas Health System proved the adage true when the coronavirus pandemic required office closures and physical distancing. The measures were designed with safety in mind, but patients still needed care. Expanded telehealth services – also known as telemedicine services – were born.

“Prior to COVID-19, regulatory restrictions and coverage limitations prevented widespread use of telehealth services, but the pandemic made it necessary to remove those barriers so patients could safely obtain care,” says otolaryngologist Keith Sale, MD, vice president and physician executive for ambulatory services. “Today, telehealth is a sustainable, long-term tool in our toolkit. It elevates safety, flexibility, convenience and access. We can provide this amazing service to anyone, anywhere.”

According to Dr. Sale, the health system historically conducted about 500 telehealth visits each year. Following the expansion of telehealth services as part of the COVID-19 response effort, the health system conducted about 25,000 telehealth appointments in the offering’s first 5 weeks.

For some, it may be tough to imagine receiving care without physical contact. But it’s a change our new normal demands and a more comfortable experience than many expect.

“Our patients and providers are universally loving this,” Dr. Sale says. “That physical connection might not be there in the way we’re used to, but we can still connect with each other. We take cues from patients’ facial expressions or from their posture, for example. I don’t think we’ll lose that personal connection as much as people might think.”

Patients welcome the efficiency and convenience of telemedicine. A telehealth patient recently shared on Facebook, “I saw my cardiologist last week via Zoom. It was a good alternative for me. I live 100 miles away.”

That cardiologist was Ashley Simmons, MD.

“I love telehealth,” she says. “It allows easy access for my patients. Our appointments are on time, and nobody is dealing with drive time, traffic or parking. I’ve seen many patients from small towns in Kansas and Missouri. They’re getting the care they need without a travel burden. There are certainly times when I need and want to see patients in person, but my patients and I love having a telehealth option.”

The University of Kansas Cancer Center team also has embraced the new telehealth appointments.

“Telehealth began as a way to prepare for a potential surge in coronavirus cases, when the risk of exposure would be high for a vulnerable patient population that would still need care,” says medical oncologist Gary Doolittle, MD. “It began as a way to manage to the future, but we also feel it’s the right thing to do for our patients and for our organization. Telehealth provides safety and flexibility. I think it’s an effort that’s going to stick.”

Dr. Sale agrees, citing telehealth services as a long-term strategy to make quality care available to more patients in new ways.

“I believe telehealth is here to stay,” Dr. Sale says. “We live in a COVID-19 world now. As we look at continued recovery, telehealth presents an opportunity to give and receive care while safely distancing. It also offers efficiency and convenience that patients appreciate, especially those who live throughout Kansas where they may not have local access to specialty care. A combination of in-person and telehealth visits is going to be our new normal.”

Call 913-588-1227 to make a telehealth appointment or request one online.

You’ll need a MyChart account to receive care by telehealth. If you already have one, you may be able to self-schedule a telehealth appointment, depending on your need. If you do not have one, you can sign up for one now.