In preparation for the launch of season 2 of Telehealth Heroes, a podcast about people and providers doing amazing things in the world of telehealth, I compiled a list of the best lessons we learned from our heroes in the first season. Let’s check them out!
Private practice providers use telehealth to deliver care their way
Many of our guests from the first season run private practices. Here are some of our favorite moments from providers talking about the freedom telehealth has given them and their colleagues.
In this clip, Psychologist Dr. Laura Forsyth relates a moment when—after having a very emotional telehealth session with a patient—she got to walk outside of her beach house and soak in a beautiful, healing view.
Endocrinologist Dr. Medhavi Jogi
“Why would you work for me versus a large corporation? Well, it’s because you want to have control of your own destiny, of what your time is like and how you treat patients as much as you can.”
People in informatics are nerds
Host Brandon Welch has a PhD in informatics, just like his guest Dr. Anthony Dunnigan. The clip speaks for itself.
Telehealth comes in all shapes and sizes
Telehealth Van is an amazing company that uses vans—equipped with wifi, laptops, and other devices—to bring telehealth to underserved people in Los Angeles county. Listen to founder Dion Rambo discuss the problems they needed to overcome when devising the original plan for the Telehealth Van.
Telehealth makes a big difference for the vulnerable and underprivileged
Many of our providers work with underprivileged patients. Telehealth helps overcome so many barriers to access for the people who need care the most.
In this clip, Dion Rambo talks about his experience riding along on the first Telehealth Van visit. That very first visit proved to him just how important the work was.
Dr. Darius Campinha Bacote works with the Dallas County Juvenile Department and the local VA. He shared a story about a client who was a victim of military sexual trauma, and who never would have received care without telehealth:
“I talked with a woman who said, ‘I couldn’t. When I saw that your name was Darius, I knew that was a male. And I had been sexually assaulted by a male. I didn’t want to see you. Now that it’s telehealth, I’m able to move the camera, I’m able to not look.’ I don’t know how I can say that more importantly. There’s no way this woman would have done this, [telehealth] was the only method for her.”
Telehealth keeps getting bigger
Still have doubts about the potential for telehealth in the future? I don’t know why you would, because all of the big names have entered the game: Google, Microsoft, and most recently, Amazon (and a little company called doxy.me is still doing pretty well, too). During Season 1, we got to talk with a couple of people in huge telehealth-centered organizations.
In this clip, Dr. Tania Elliott, current Chief Medical Officer of Virtual Care at Ascension and former Medical Director of Doctor On Demand, relates a humorous story about her mother, Dr. Phil, and the founding of Doctor on Demand.
Dr. David Mou, Chief Medical Officer of Cerebral
“…And so all of that has allowed us to become literally the fastest growing healthcare company ever. Within two years, around 21 months, we were able to go from zero patients to 200,000 patients in all 50 states and the UK… But we are closing a $300 million round in the coming weeks. And we’re hoping to become the global leader in tele-mental health.”
Telehealth is kind of like Star Wars
Do you agree with Dr. Jogi?
Even still, we haven’t achieved equity: but some people are working hard to change that
Even though telehealth overcomes many barriers to access, it has a few challenges of its own to face. Organizations like Palmetto Care Connections and Telehealth Van are taking huge steps to increase equity for rural areas and underprivileged people. Listen to Kathy Schwarting of Palmetto Care Connections talk about the future of broadband in South Carolina.
These amazing heroes have done so much for the world of healthcare and telehealth. If you want to hear their full stories, check out the Telehealth Heroes Podcast.
Or listen on your favorite podcasting apps:
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