COVID 19 is an accelerant of change. Companies and institutions are changing 20 to 25 times faster than before COVID 19.
I took a course at Harvard Medical School about ten years ago. It focused on the use of telehealth technologies in treating mental health disorders. The evidence was presented. It proved that virtual mental health interactions were as effective as face to face meetings.
Coming out of that course, I was convinced that telehealth was an acceptable technology and ready for prime time.
My timing was wrong. By delivering mental health services with a virtual meeting with the patient, it was felt by the traditional institutions to be inappropriate.
And since I had adopted telehealth for my substance use disorder medicine work and in delivering travel health healthcare services by partnering with pharmacists in smaller communities, I was informed that this was not appropriate. I was labelled a disruptor.
The traditionalists will reiterate until their last breath that doctor patient interactions must occur face to face.
Enter COVID19 and that changes dramatically.
Now almost all mental health services are delivered using telehealth. And many patients find it much preferred. As do the doctors.
Raymond Rupert patient advocate and healthcare consultant.