The new medical paradigm

[D.H.]

It's pretty obvious than once the dust settles from the Covid-19 pandemic, the way medicine will practiced will be very different.

There was already talk of how medical care would be paid for (Enhanced Obamacare, Medicare for All, Medicare for all Who Want it, a Public Option, etc.). However, there was relatively little talk of how medical care would be provided.

For instance, many insurance plans did not want to pay for telemedicine and many providers were not comfortable with the concept. This was changing very slowly, but the crisis has dragged them in kicking and screaming. Telemedicine is here to stay! Because of this paradigm shift, other changes will naturally follow.

For instance, home sleep testing will become even more prevalent. Home test equipment of all sorts of other stuff will likewise become ubiquitous). Eventually, robotc surgery from remote locations will start to be accepted (especially in rural areas).

[chunkyfrog]

If there are no changes, we can pretty much expect the current situation to continue.
The most resources will go to red states with the most electoral votes.

[raisedfist]

I'm hoping that hospital employees will finally rebel against their mba having bloated salary overlords who martyr their employees, but I am not holding my breath.

[Goofproof]

It's pretty obvious than once the dust settles from the Covid-19 pandemic, the way medicine will practiced will be very different.

There was already talk of how medical care would be paid for (Enhanced Obamacare, Medicare for All, Medicare for all Who Want it, a Public Option, etc.). However, there was relatively little talk of how medical care would be provided.

For instance, many insurance plans did not want to pay for telemedicine and many providers were not comfortable with the concept. This was changing very slowly, but the crisis has dragged them in kicking and screaming. Telemedicine is here to stay! Because of this paradigm shift, other changes will naturally follow.

For instance, home sleep testing will become even more prevalent. Home test equipment of all sorts of other stuff will likewise become ubiquitous). Eventually, robotc surgery from remote locations will start to be accepted (especially in rural areas).

Tomorrow will usually bring change, what you or we think about it will do little to sway the future, the best we hope for was to adapt.

My heart Dr , just did the phone thing, it doesn't look like he took a cut in pay, and I still had to pay the Co.pay. Jim

[chunkyfrog]

Medicare paid for my sleep doc on Zoom.
She asked if we could do it that way next year.
I said OK, but I will change that if Medicare stops supporting telemedicine
"after" the pandemic. (If there is an "after", that is . . . )

[D.H.]

Medicare paid for my sleep doc on Zoom.
She asked if we could do it that way next year.
I said OK, but I will change that if Medicare stops supporting telemedicine
"after" the pandemic. (If there is an "after", that is . . . )

If they were supporting it before, they I can't see that they won't support it after. They might cut back somewhat to what they're newly allowing. However, patients and providers are more comfortable with telemedicine because it's being so widely practiced. Also, the supporting infrastructure is being built and will remain in place. Therefore, I don't suspect that it will be cutback to pre-epidemic levels.

Especially, I think that this will be a more normalized way to deliver healthcare to those who are disabled (and would find it difficult to get to the doctor's office) or those who live in rural areas where the distances make it difficult.

[D.H.]

Here's an example that's specific to sleep medicine. You get disposable home sleep testing equipment and the data are transmitted over the phone network or the internet.

If CPAP is indicated, it is shipped to the home.

This sleep center was only supposed to be for the Central Part of Tennessee, but they are servicing entire state due to the pandemic. Since you don't have to come in, they should be able to service anybody in the country and perhaps beyond.

Link ===> https://www.citizentribune.com/news/cor ... 16b65.html

[Goofproof]

Medicare paid for my sleep doc on Zoom.
She asked if we could do it that way next year.
I said OK, but I will change that if Medicare stops supporting telemedicine
"after" the pandemic. (If there is an "after", that is . . . )

They took mine, and it was just a phone call, works out great for me. I can take and monitor my own Blood Pressure, I know when I'm having non normal troubles. Visits to the office are useless, except to keep scripts current.

The Dr and I both know what is wrong, and it's not worthwhile to try to make it better, a Lube Job won't help, this Old Mechanic is worn out, no cure for that.

Not being able to drive, or walk, makes going to the doctors office close to impossible. I had my GP, set me up to one office visit a year, two more doctors to go. The less the better... Jim Haven't been out of the house since Nov 2019. Haven't been in a store shopping in 3 years, I do miss that. Jim

[D.H.]

Medicare paid for my sleep doc on Zoom.
She asked if we could do it that way next year.
I said OK, but I will change that if Medicare stops supporting telemedicine
"after" the pandemic. (If there is an "after", that is . . . )

They took mine, and it was just a phone call, works out great for me. I can take and monitor my own Blood Pressure, I know when I'm having non normal troubles. Visits to the office are useless, except to keep scripts current.

The Dr and I both know what is wrong, and it's not worthwhile to try to make it better, a Lube Job won't help, this Old Mechanic is worn out, no cure for that.

Not being able to drive, or walk, makes going to the doctors office close to impossible. I had my GP, set me up to one office visit a year, two more doctors to go. The less the better... Jim Haven't been out of the house since Nov 2019. Haven't been in a store shopping in 3 years, I do miss that. Jim

Since your disability prevents you from going to the office, you fit into one of the categories that I described. Since I don't know exactly where in Central Indiana you live, I don't know how remote your area is, so you possibly fall into the other category too.

[chunkyfrog]

What about the annual "wellness visit"?
Our doc is quite insistent on doing this--even though I see little benefit.
Hope this little thorn can be plucked remotely.
Kind of a no-brainer . . .

[Goofproof]

Medicare paid for my sleep doc on Zoom.
She asked if we could do it that way next year.
I said OK, but I will change that if Medicare stops supporting telemedicine
"after" the pandemic. (If there is an "after", that is . . . )

They took mine, and it was just a phone call, works out great for me. I can take and monitor my own Blood Pressure, I know when I'm having non normal troubles. Visits to the office are useless, except to keep scripts current.

The Dr and I both know what is wrong, and it's not worthwhile to try to make it better, a Lube Job won't help, this Old Mechanic is worn out, no cure for that.

Not being able to drive, or walk, makes going to the doctors office close to impossible. I had my GP, set me up to one office visit a year, two more doctors to go. The less the better... Jim Haven't been out of the house since Nov 2019. Haven't been in a store shopping in 3 years, I do miss that. Jimp.

Since your disability prevents you from going to the office, you fit into one of the categories that I described. Since I don't know exactly where in Central Indiana you live, I don't know how remote your area is, so you possibly fall into the oi.ther category too.

Not remote enough, we just had our 3rd death from the virus, a fireman. R.I.P. More Firemen here test Pos. Jim I have a Son-in-law here, a fireman and Paramedic. Two daughters as nurses in critical care units, and a Granddaughter also a nurse in Indy.

[SDBud]

It's pretty obvious than once the dust settles from the Covid-19 pandemic, the way medicine will practiced will be very different.

There was already talk of how medical care would be paid for (Enhanced Obamacare, Medicare for All, Medicare for all Who Want it, a Public Option, etc.). However, there was relatively little talk of how medical care would be provided.

For instance, many insurance plans did not want to pay for telemedicine and many providers were not comfortable with the concept. This was changing very slowly, but the crisis has dragged them in kicking and screaming. Telemedicine is here to stay! Because of this paradigm shift, other changes will naturally follow.

For instance, home sleep testing will become even more prevalent. Home test equipment of all sorts of other stuff will likewise become ubiquitous). Eventually, robotc surgery from remote locations will start to be accepted (especially in rural areas).

The VA has been into Telemedicine for some things for a number of years, and has easily expanded it to Primary care and more.

[SDBud]

What about the annual "wellness visit"?
Our doc is quite insistent on doing this--even though I see little benefit.
Hope this little thorn can be plucked remotely.
Kind of a no-brainer . . .

There are MANY things a Doctor might see if you're doing an in-person visit, that could easily be missed during a video visit.

I doubt telemed will ever fully replace in-person visits, even for routine things.

[colomom]

As someone who lives in rural America and has had to deal with many family health complications that small local hospitals can’t handle, I sure hope telemedicine sticks!

My medical travels over the last 3 years:
My Dad who lives in nearby Utah has had significant health issues the last few years. His home in Utah is 3 hours from my home in Colorado, the nearest hospital from my Dad’s home that can handle anything that isn’t minor is an additional 2 hours. I’ve done this 10 hour round trip hospital trek about 6 times in the past 3 years.
I’ve also taken my dad on 2 trips to Mayo Phoenix (they are amazing) but it’s about an 18 hour round trip drive each time.

For my son, 3 trips to Mayo Rochester (Minnesota is a long haul from Colorado); and 8 trips to Denver (7 hours in the summer when the 3 mountain passes between here and there are open).

For those of us who live in rural areas our access to specialized medicine is extremely limited, an increase in the availability of telehealth would be tremendous, I hope it sticks!

[DreamDiver]

An interesting read about my home town.
I wouldn't classify Athens are rural, but we are surrounded by counties that are mostly rural communities. Rural hospitals have been closing all over America since long before Covid-19 because they can't afford to keep their doors open. So all the patients come to the hospitals that are still open. Health-care worker shortages, hospitalization costs... This is a frank glimpse at what it's like to live in this part of Georgia and is probably a reflection of what life is like in a lot of mostly rural states. The image below explains my view on what's happening.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... eas-174999