Dr. Neri Cohen WBAL COVID-19 Townhall - March 23, 2021

For many, telehealth has become the new normal in medical care, but some are concerned about how well it will work for them. To explain telehealth video visits, Neri Cohen, MD, Lead Clinical Informatics Liaison and Vice Chair of Innovation, Information, and Technology at GBMC, joined WBAL Radio’s Coronavirus Townhall with hosts, C4 and Bryan Nehman.

Dr. Cohen acknowledged that there are both advantages and disadvantages to telehealth, but emphasized that overall, it has been extremely helpful for patients. Certain conditions such as a lump in the breast need to be examined in person but, for most cases “there is a huge amount of information that a clinician can discover just by looking at patients and watching them interact.” Telehealth also offers the unique opportunity for providers to see a patient’s home, allowing a more personalized experience.

Patients can show their doctor their medicine cabinet and other things in their home that may be presenting challenges for them. Dr. Cohen also noted that many patients are more honest when they are in a comfortable environment. “Patients are much more guarded when they come to the office,” he said. Many also find it more convenient to see their doctor in their home than to travel to an office. Eliminating travel time makes it easier to talk to their doctor because the visit takes less time overall. This is especially helpful for patients who are working full-time or have children to care for.

One of the challenges that Dr. Cohen foresees is the potential for insurance companies to stop covering telehealth after public health emergency rules end. Recently, Medicare permanently established telehealth as a covered service, but other companies are not obligated to follow suit. “There is no question that patients want this technology available,” Dr. Cohen explained. “They will be the push for insurers to continue to provide reimbursement.”

While the rise in telehealth was caused by the pandemic, it can offer benefits to patients well after the pandemic is over. “I think this is an excellent option for patients, and I think it’s here to stay,” said Dr. Cohen. “GBMC has made a significant investment in the bandwidth of our video platforms so that the communication is almost as seamless as face-to-face interaction. People are really noticing the efficiency and value of telehealth in patient care.”