The End of the PHE: Persevering and Thriving in Neurology continued from page 3

Committee. In the two years since its inception, the subcommittee has produced numerous resources for members, including disease-specific exam guides, case studies, and policy summaries as the telehealth policy landscape continually evolves. They are available at AAN.com/telehealth. A series of educational teleneurology videos targeted at neurology residents is forthcoming.

I am a firm believer in silver linings, and while not minimizing the horrors and disruptions of the pandemic, there were some significant upsides that emerged over time. I asked a couple of my colleagues who were deeply involved in our PHE work what positives they drew from the last three years.

Dr. Bruce H. Cohen, who chairs the Advocacy Committee and is a member of our Board of Directors, shared with me, “We got to spend more time with our families allowing us to appreciate the art of life, focusing on the things that mattered, and putting aside what did not matter. In our professional life, we were able to foster new friendships via Zoom meetings, despite the drawbacks of the technology. In terms of patient advocacy, we cut through 10 years of administrative, regulatory, and legislative hurdles to get us ahead on telehealth, almost overnight. Within weeks, neurologists became adept at performing physical exams using telehealth services. It made it much easier for patients with neurologic conditions (physical or cognitive) to access medical care. That new access allowed me to conduct office visits with patients in our respective homes, bringing a new aspect to the physician-patient relationship.”

Dr. Brad Klein, also a Board member and chair of our Medical Economics and Practice Committee, noted, “While COVID-19 was devastating to so many patients and their families, a few potential silver linings did emerge. The pandemic catalyzed the adoption and acceptance of telehealth. It improved access to neurology services, particularly for patients in remote areas, reduced travel time and costs, and provided a convenient option for patients who may have difficulty physically visiting a clinic. Even though