I’m big on eye contact with patients. It’s how we show ourselves as humans. The eyes are the windows to the soul. Through them, we build trust, empathy and reciprocity. When I’m with a patient face-to-face it isn’t always possible but I do my best. Like the IRL experience I try to achieve some level of eye contact during telemedicine encounters. But care through ... Continue Reading about The Illusion of Eye Contact with Telemedicine
Compromised connection: Lessons from a Year of Telemedicine
Let’s face it: Telemedicine isn’t there yet. I’ve been treating patients for nearly a year by remote care and so far I’m underwhelmed. And my patients have voted with their feet — most still want to see me in person. I suspect they're not happy with the compromised connection that telemedicine delivers. So I want to unpack some of my ideas on telemedicine. ... Continue Reading about Compromised connection: Lessons from a Year of Telemedicine
Telemedicine and Our Transitional Moment
In 2020 with the nearly overnight adoption of telemedicine we experienced a variant what 20th century media theorist Marshall McLuhan called the transitional moment. It basically suggests that when we are faced with a new media we tend to use it in a way that reiterates the old media. The early use of YouTube, for example, mimicked television. It took years before ... Continue Reading about Telemedicine and Our Transitional Moment
Refusing Telemedicine – Can Patients Opt-out of Remote Care?
With the sweeping rise of COVID19 telemedicine has taken healthcare by storm. During the local surges, this served as a mandated way of maintaining safe distancing. But as things come back to a new normal and as we decide where telemedicine fits in to a clinic structure it might be worth asking: should patients have the option for in-person care. Is refusing ... Continue Reading about Refusing Telemedicine – Can Patients Opt-out of Remote Care?
Telemedicine Hype Cycle and the Future of Remote Care
A recent STATNews First Opinion piece suggested that we’re seeing the abandonment of telemedicine by physicians after a strong start in 2020. Data from Phreesia shows early adoption in March 2020 with a fall off in May - This pattern reflects the earliest phases of the telemedicine hype cycle. Distracted and disillusioned maybe. Abandoned, no. So what ... Continue Reading about Telemedicine Hype Cycle and the Future of Remote Care
The Short Game of Telemedicine
Look at everyone who jumped on to telemedicine during COVID19. Almost across the board healthcare systems are using video technology to sustain an old business model. It’s the short game of telemedicine. I understand it because I live in it. Operations must continue. The lights need to stay on. The problem is that some healthcare leaders see telemedicine ... Continue Reading about The Short Game of Telemedicine