I have website clients that are medical providers and they need to rapidly benchmark their communications to respond to Covid-19, aka Corona virus.
This is a developing fact/best practice gathering of details to help + Guidance from Medicaid and BCBS pushing medical providers to rapidly gear up for Virtual (video) and Phone (telehealth) services for their patients.
This is important to provide continuing care and to keep medical providers paid (via insurance) so that they can stay in business and keep providing health care.
Considerations for Medical Provider Covid-19 Communication Topics
- changes in business hours
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Question – Are you still taking normal appointments?
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Some doctor’s offices are not seeing patients for routine care, checkups and stuff, especially in the at risk categories.
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Are you still open the same hours?
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- telehealth options (video calls or regular calls with Doctors for a virtual apptmnt BCBS will start paying claims on these after the 20th I believe)
- changes in what doctors will see for patients at risk or all patients
- guidance on refilling prescriptions early so people are prepared
- staggering appointment times such that patients do not bunch up in waiting areas
- elective surgery rescheduling
- pregnancy guidelines (pregnant women can sometimes be more susceptible to respiratory challenges. Covid-19 is not passed from mother to child per multiple examples in china)
Allowing patients to to use Telehealth, Virtual Checkins and eHealth
See Medicaid is loosening Telehealth Restrictions – https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
Example here’s Catawba Women’s Center message at http://www.catawbawomenscenter.com/“Catawba Women’s Center makes every effort to protect our staff, patients and their love ones. In order to minimize the possibility of exposure to the Coronavirus and other diseases, we have made the difficult decision to prohibit visitors unless necessary for medical care. For more information on how to protect yourself and others visit https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/individuals-families“
We are actively monitoring the current recommendations regarding the outbreak of Covid-19 in the United States. If you have travelled outside the United States in the last 21 days and have a fever, cough and shortness of breath, or have concerns that you might have been exposed to Covid-19, and you also have a scheduled appointment with us, please call our office so that we can assist you in receiving care. Please do not come to the office without first calling.We have also evaluated our current cleaning practices and added additional measures to ensure high traffic areas and surfaces are cleaned more frequently. We will continue to monitor the situation and update our webpage. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call.
If you have questions regarding Covid-19, please visit the CDC website for more information (link the CDC text to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html )
Who to follow to get good information?
If you are a doctor or medical provider in the State of North Carolina, this is a person you should follow probably. Some great information and conversations going on here. Follow – >