Telemedicine provides care options for patients

MOSES LAKE — For patients who needed to visit the doctor during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine often became a necessity. Restrictions are easing, and people are returning to medical facilities, but telemedicine is still an option for patients seeking primary care as well as specialty care.

Restrictions were imposed on patients entering medical facilities in late March. Surgeries were postponed, and patients were allowed inside a medical facility only under certain circumstances. But people still needed to see the doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, and telemedicine became the option for many visits.

State officials started easing some restrictions in late May, and once again people can see the doctor or other medical professional in person. Dr. Jazab Sheikh, chief medical director for Samaritan’s Pioneer and Patton clinics, said most patients are opting for in-person visits.

But telemedicine is still an option for patients who don’t feel comfortable coming back into a clinic or hospital just yet, Sheikh said. He is an adult care and internal medicine specialist and a telemedicine veteran, having used it in a previous practice. Patients can request the telemedicine option when they contact Samaritan for an appointment.

The coronavirus pandemic caused state and federal regulators to rethink some of the regulations governing telemedicine and primary care. Insurance providers also have examined reimbursement policies.

Some Samaritan physicians are opting to continue consulting with their patients via telemedicine, Sheikh said.

Moses Lake Community Health Center also used telemedicine to provide primary care during the lockdowns. Stephanie Melcher, MLCH marketing and communications manager, said that since the restrictions have been lifted, most Community Health patients are opting to see the doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner in person.

“The amount of our total patients using telemedicine is very low, and we are seeing more patients coming back into our clinics and using our drive-up areas, when the appointments allow,” Melcher said.

“Overall we are glad to have the telemedicine option added to our toolkit, but it is not a huge percentage of our daily appointments,” she said.

Confluence Health offers telemedicine for primary care through its Virtual Care Clinic, which is available 24 hours per day to treat “minor or routine medical conditions like cold, flu, rash or infections,” according to its website.

Part of the Virtual Care Clinic process is an evaluation to see if the patient is better off seeking immediate help at a clinic or emergency room.

Telemedicine can be by teleconference or by telephone. Sheikh said teleconference is the preferred method, since it allows medical professionals and patients to see each other.

While restrictions have been eased, the coronavirus is still out there. If there’s a resurgence of the virus, medical facilities might be required to reinstate rules restricting patient access.

“It all depends on the virus,” Sheikh said.