In efforts to provide high-quality healthcare in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), telemedicine service and coverage have become increasingly vital. This puts AV professionals in a position to assist healthcare providers during this trying time.

In the midst of a global pandemic where our most vulnerable are at risk, lawmakers in the United States have temporarily expanded telemedicine services for Medicare beneficiaries, allowing a range of providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers, to offer telehealth services to their patients covered through Medicaid.

Medicare breaks down telemedicine coverage into three different kinds of services. The first is a Virtual Check-In, which is a brief 5-10 minute conversation via telecommunication device to determine if an office visit or other service is needed for a patient. The second is an E-Visit, which is a communication between a patient and their provider through an online patient portal. Finally, Medicare Telehealth Visits are more in-depth visits between a patient and provider using a telecommunication system that are considered equivalent to in-person appointments.

Traditionally, Medicare limits full telehealth coverage to patients in rural areas who can only utilize telemedicine from specific pre-designated facilities. That restriction has temporarily been lifted allowing Medicare users in broader circumstances to use remote services from the comfort and safety of their own home. This is especially important as seniors are among the most vulnerable populations to COVID-19.

Expanded Medicare coverage isn’t the only way telehealth is growing in the face of the pandemic. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed legislation to expand access to telemedicine services and expediate licensure of out-of-state professionals. As the weeks pass, more and more healthcare providers and patients will rely on telemedicine to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Which means there is a need across the country for telemedicine equipment. 

Healthcare workers will need to mobilize quickly to meet this new demand, so what can AV professionals do to help? Try these 3 tips to get involved and start making a difference:

Tip 1: This takes finesse.

This isn’t the time to make a hard sell, it’s an opportunity to assist healthcare providers who desperately need a safe way to treat the virus without worrying about spreading it. Make sure you and your team are operating from a place of empathy and compassion. This is, after all, about helping people not driving revenue.

Tip 2: It starts with a checkup.

Check with your local contacts to see if they need assistance getting telemedicine capabilities up and running. Yes, it’s as simple as that. Give docs a taste of their own medicine with a healthy checkup.

Tip 3: Keep it simple.

We love custom AV as much as the next person but today’s climate calls for fast and easy. Consider providing a bundled solution with options to upgrade/degrade as needed to make the process as simple as possible. The easier purchasing telemedicine equipment is, the quicker providers can connect with patients to get them the help they need. A basic bill of materials and upgrade options will go a long way to getting a telemedicine setup up and running ASAP.

Visiting a waiting room may not be an option for those most at risk for COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean patients can’t get the care they need remotely, and our partners have the opportunity to help. Check in with your local contacts to see if you can assist with a telemedicine setup, and remember, we’re all in this together.

At Legrand | AV, we are dedicated to keeping people connected no matter where they are. If you have any videoconferencing or live streaming questions, our solutions engineers are ready to help. Email us at av.solutions@legrand.com with the details of your project.