Virtual Health – A Double-Edged Sword

As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, having no other choice, most US healthcare institutions adopted virtual care through telehealth visits almost overnight.

As a consumer of telehealth, I can witness to the ease of sitting in my home, chatting with my medical provider, and coming to a satisfying conclusion about how to approach my medical condition without schlepping across town to see her in person.

As a telehealth provider, I wonder at the ease in which I can make a diagnosis of a child’s rash without a parent having to deal with the hassle of bringing that child into the office.

However, telehealth and virtual care can be a double-edged sword.

Without making space within the daily schedule of medical providers to properly attend to their telehealth patients, it can become one more item in a long list of tasks which have landed in the lap of providers – patient portal messages, test results review, insurance authorizations, pharmacy refills, consults referrals, and on and on and on.

Burnout and disillusionment are at an all-time high in healthcare right now. We all love the convenience which comes from innovation, but we must attend to the human needs of the people providing that convenience.

• Off-load some administrative tasks to other medical professionals.
• Provide administrative time built into the day for providers to complete the tasks added to their plates without taking it all home.
• Engage providers and support staff to come up with their own solutions about how to address the work overload.
• Connect healthcare providers with the emotional support they need to cope with all the complexities of their work.

It took a world-wide pandemic to institute changes in our healthcare system overnight which have been in consideration for years. Can we approach the well-being and survival of our medical providers with the same sense of urgency?

How has the explosion of virtual health impacted your life as a patient or provider?

Joe Sherman, MD is a pediatrician, professional development coach, and consultant to individuals and healthcare organizations in the areas of cross-cultural medicine, leadership, and provider well-being. His mission is to help health professionals rediscover the joy of practicing medicine. Reach him at joe@joeshermanmd.com