Rochester Regional Health is expanding access to its new telemedicine service so patients with symptoms of COVID-19 can talk with a doctor from wherever they are.
The service is called Care Now. Dr. Bridgette Wiefling, Rochester Regional’s vice president for primary care, said patients can call a triage nurse at the primary care office, and the nurse will determine whether the patient can be cared for over the phone or if they need to come in.
“If a patient calls, and they are very sick, we will probably not be doing a video visit with them,” she said. “We will be helping to make sure that they are transported to the nearest emergency department that is appropriately equipped to take care of them."
Wiefling said they're seeing an increase in calls from people with symptoms of typical viral illnesses.
She said it's very difficult to tell COVID-19 from the flu and other viruses, but physicians know what to look for, even through telemedicine.
“They're remarkably accurate,” Wiefling said. “This technology has been out for quite some time, and physicians are very good at understanding the history and understanding what conditions and symptoms that they're looking at."
Patients communicate with a provider through a smartphone, tablet or computer.
Weifling said this telemedicine system can not only protect patients, it also can protect health care workers from being unnecessarily exposed to the virus.
Video:
Physician’s assistant Colette Madison has a mock consultation with a test patient with Care Now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCjlkr8ZfIo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCjlkr8ZfIo