Making house calls Heritage Health launches Telehealth to patients

Heritage Health launches Telehealth to patients

Donna “Gracie” Beisner knew she had an awful sinus infection.

She had them before. The Spirit Lake woman was miserable with headaches and a stuffed-up nose.

She wanted to see her doctor, but the threat of the coronavirus weighed heavily on her mind.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a deadly virus that attacks the respiratory system. It can be fatal for people with lung issues or comprised immune systems. The contagious disease is a global pandemic and Idahoans have been ordered to stay in their homes to slow the spread of it.

“Because I suffer from asthma, the last thing I wanted to do was to be around sick people,” said Gracie. “I have to keep my airways open. I didn’t want to go to the clinic unless I had to. I thought Telehealth would give me an awesome chance to get better.”

Gracie set up a phone appointment with Dr. Julianne Cameron, hoping she could get some relief from the pain.

About 15 minutes later she did.

“Doctor Cameron was great,” said Beisner. “Telehealth worked for me. She asked me questions about what was going on. I told her that I didn’t have a fever and that I wasn’t getting better. She prescribed me some medicine and it’s working.”

From Cameron’s perspective, the Telehealth experience was a positive one, albeit unconventional.

“She was my first telehealth encounter, so it was a learning experience, but I feel I was able to provide her with adequate care given the limitations of the telephone,” said Cameron. “Telehealth will help fight the coronavirus, and any other virus – it is flu season after all, by limiting patients’ and staff exposure.”

Heritage Health started offering Teleheath services to its patients last week.

“We’re on the front lines of the war against coronavirus,” said Heritage Health CEO Mike Baker. “This tool will help stop the spread of the virus and take some of the pressure off of our community health partners. We can help people with Telehealth and I am excited about it.”

Telehealth originally was created to help providers reach patients living in remote areas across the country. Technology has improved so that telehealth (medical, behavioral health and psychiatric care) can also be delivered via a computer, smartphone or handheld device.

For patients like Gracie – not having to drive into a clinic was a game-changer.

“For me, it was wonderful,” she said. “I am already feeling better. I was so glad I didn’t have to go into the clinic with what’s going on out there.”