In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth emerged as a crucial tool for patients seeking remote medical consultations and treatments. Dr. Robert Corona, CEO of Upstate University Hospital, shared insights on the current state and future of telehealth services at the hospital in an interview with WAER.
Broadening Access to Care Through Telehealth
"So, we have a number of different telehealth offerings. It does really improve the access to care," Corona said.
He highlighted the widespread use of telehealth in various specialties, including psychiatry, behavioral health, GI, diabetes, cancer, urology, and neurosurgery. During the pandemic, telehealth usage saw a significant increase due to restrictions on face-to-face consultations. While there has been a decline since then, Corona believes telehealth will see renewed growth as new technologies make it more accessible and easier to use.
Challenges in Telehealth: Reimbursement and Integration
Despite its benefits, telehealth faces several challenges.
"Reimbursement is probably the number one barrier to use of telemedicine," Corona noted.
He explained that while hospitals no longer receive reimbursement for telehealth, professional fees for physicians are still covered. The integration of telehealth into electronic patient records remains another significant barrier, although Upstate has made strides by using the Epic system, which includes an integrated telehealth application.
Navigating Reimbursement Complexities
Corona also discussed the complexities of reimbursement rates, particularly the concept of parity.
"Parity just means that you're participating with an individual insurance program," he explained.
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements for telehealth are consistent, but commercial insurers present a more complicated landscape, often requiring audio-visual connections for reimbursement and typically not covering asynchronous consultations.
High-Quality Care Outside Traditional Settings
To overcome these barriers, Upstate University Hospital is implementing innovative strategies.
"We are one of 200 plus hospitals in the nation that have a hospital at home program," Corona said.
This program allows patients who qualify for inpatient care to be managed at home using wearable technologies and remote monitoring, with periodic visits from healthcare professionals. Corona emphasized the program's success and the benefits of patients receiving care in the comfort of their homes, surrounded by loved ones.
Upstate is also exploring mobile medicine, utilizing a mobile van and smartphone technologies to enhance access to care. Additionally, the hospital is leveraging off-the-shelf commercial technologies to streamline telehealth services and improve healthcare access for all patients.
The Role of Regulatory Compliance and Legislation
Regulatory compliance and legislative actions play a significant role in the growth of telehealth services.
"Fortunately, recently the regulatory policies have loosened up to encourage telemedicine. I think COVID accelerated that," Corona said.
He highlighted the hospital’s efforts to provide high-quality care outside traditional hospital settings through initiatives like urgent care facilities connected to their emergency department and the Connect Care program, which offers high-acuity care in a more accessible setting.
Addressing Concerns and Embracing New Technologies
Addressing concerns from healthcare professionals about telehealth, Corona acknowledged that some specialties requiring more physical diagnosis might find telehealth challenging. However, he is optimistic about the potential of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and haptic sensors, to improve the quality of telehealth consultations.
Future of Healthcare Innovation
Corona also shared his excitement about the future of healthcare innovation.
"I love the challenges that keep coming our way, keep us on our toes, and some of the new technologies we have to address some of the problems," he said.
He mentioned the use of robots for logistical tasks and drones for rapid transportation of supplies and medications as examples of how technology is transforming healthcare at Upstate University Hospital.
Balancing Soft Skills with Technology
However, despite all the advances in technology, the greatest healthcare providers balance soft skills with software.
"Really, what differentiates a healthcare professional now is not necessarily their ability to memorize stuff, because everything can be looked up on a little phone. It's their ability to have compassion and caring and to translate data and make it digestible to a patient,” Corona concludes.
Upstate Hospital is a sponsor of WAER.
