{"id":31882,"date":"2021-01-28T16:07:40","date_gmt":"2021-01-28T16:07:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=31882"},"modified":"2021-01-28T16:07:40","modified_gmt":"2021-01-28T16:07:40","slug":"seismic-shifts-occurring-in-care-delivery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/seismic-shifts-occurring-in-care-delivery\/","title":{"rendered":"Seismic Shifts Occurring in Care Delivery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The COVID-19 pandemic abruptly shifted our ideas about what is possible at home. Many people continue to work from home, others switched to virtual school, and the video chats with friends and family that became common last March remain a regular part of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The way we think about the delivery of health care has changed, too. In 2020, people took a fresh look at the home as the most appropriate setting for health care. But even before the pandemic, the care delivery pendulum was swinging toward more health care at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pandemic accelerated interest in care options outside facilities, and when other factors are considered, including the ongoing shift toward more value-based care arrangements, increasing consumer demand for convenience and technology innovation, it is no surprise health care is moving home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What 2020 Taught Us<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The past year demonstrated to many more people, including physicians, that delivering high-quality health care beyond the four walls of a clinic, hospital or skilled nursing facility is not just possible, but in many cases actually safer and more convenient for providers and consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unfortunate realities of the pandemic required many to reexamine whether facility-based care is always the best option. COVID-19 exposed the struggle for resources and bed space many hospitals face, and there was a rapid spread of the virus in far too many nursing homes. It became evident that space in these facilities must be reserved for those in immediate need who require intensive care, such as patients with severe cases of COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, other health care needs can be met outside hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. Overall, people do like their doctors, and these relationships are vital to build trust. But as we saw more than ever in 2020, a visit with a physician does not always need to involve traveling to an office and sitting in a waiting room with others who may be sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in 2020, the use of telehealth services increased exponentially. In February 2020, just 0.1% of Medicare primary care visits were conducted via telehealth. By April 2020, 43% of these visits were completed virtually, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n