News You Can Use – Telemedicine Back to the Future
Vaccines 5 and Up
By Dr. Nick van Terheyden aka Dr. Nick
Twitter: @drnic1
Host of Dr. Nick: The Incrementalist – #TheIncrementalist
This months episode of “News you can Use” in the traditions of “Ask Me Anything” on Healthcare NOW Radio features news from the month of November.
You can read more about the series here and the concept of keeping up with innovating in healthcare. Please send me your suggestions on topics you’d like to see covered. You can reach out direct via the contact form on my website, send me a message on LinkedIn or on my Facebook page (DrNickvT), or on Twitter tagging me (@DrNic1) and #TheIncrementalist or you can click this link to generate a ready-made tweet to fill in.
Episode NOW on Demand
As I did last month I am talking to Craig Joseph, MD (@CraigJoseph) Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Consulting Partners.
The big news this week was the authorization of vaccines for children 5 and up opening the door for parents to get their children vaccinated. As Craig points out the way this group get vaccinated is very different to the roll out for adults. Pediatricians are experienced and have and will continue to deliver vaccines to their patients. COVID19 is just another vaccine to add to the list. But for this group they will have the opportunity to discuss and review the risk and benefits of this decision with their trusted expert, perhaps making for a smoother more complete roll out of the vaccines in this group.
While on the subject of coverage my ask is for the media to stop with the terrifying images and videos of needles being thrust into arms and perhaps rather they could give a shout out to Dr. Amy Baxter and her company Pain Care Labs who produce the innovative “Buzzy” pain prevention solution (Read about the company here).
CVS Store Closing
We review the news that CVS is planning on closing approximately 900 stores to refocus their attention to delivering health and health related services beyond traditional pharmacy or drug store and expanding their Digital Health footprint. In the vacuum left we expect to see more form Dollar stores who recently hired a Chief Medical Officer which will make for some interesting times ahead in the local delivery for healthcare.
Telemedicine Rule Roll Back
Finally we lament the pull back of telehealth regulations that are being returned to pre-COVID19 state despite their widespread acceptance and positive feedback. As Dr. Jayne also laments
As a patient, it would be much better for my schedule to be able to see him virtually and have him compensated fully for his expertise, which is why I value his care
It barely made sense before the Pandemic and our view is it makes even less post pandemic. Consider reaching out to your legislator and ask them to keep the new readily available telehealth option in place.
About the Show
For years Dr. Nick van Terheyden aka Dr. Nick, has served as a voice on the impact of new technologies on healthcare, earning a reputation as a leading authority on where the future of medicine is going. Combining powers of observation and real world experience, Dr. Nick has seen many predictions come true and makes the case that innovations in healthcare can be accomplished incrementally, not just by moonshot events. Tune in to hear Dr. Nick: The Incrementalist and his guests discuss what the future of healthcare looks like, how we will get there, and what it will take to improve healthcare for all.
This article was originally published on the Dr. Nick – The Incrementalist blog and is republished here with permission.
