Health Care By Mark McElreah, Executive Director, Tulsa County Medical Society
It is nearly impossible to cover the landscape of health care in Tulsa without emphasizing the impact COVID-19 has had since early 2020. In 2021, COVID-19 continued to affect many aspects of our lives, from economic and social, to health and general well-being. Tulsa was not invulnerable to COVID-19 with over 110,000 cases in Tulsa County and more than 1,700 deaths (as of Nov. 30, 2021). The highest peak of weekly new cases occurred in January 2021 with 4,402. The health care and overall vitality of our community are fundamentally connected. The Tulsa community supports and maintains quality health and social services for its residents by attracting and maintaining well-trained and dedicated health care workers.
Support for health care workers The appreciation and gratitude for health care workers in Tulsa has been evident throughout the pandemic. “Light up the Sky” events, handmade posters, and videos of appreciation flooded the streets of Tulsa and social media in support of front-line workers. The pandemic has brought an increased awareness of burnout among the health care community.
According to Medscape’s 2021 Physician Burnout Report, 42% of physicians reported feeling burned out last year. Burnout among clinicians has led to questions on how it affects access to care, patient safety and care quality. Burned-out doctors are more likely to leave practice, which reduces patients’ access to and continuity of care. Burnout also can threaten patient safety and quality of care when depersonalization leads to poor interactions with patients and when burnedout physicians suffer from impaired attention, memory and executive function. To combat burnout, the Tulsa County Medical Society implemented the Physician Wellness Program. This program provides a safe harbor for physicians to address normal life difficulties in a confidential and professional environment. TCMS gathered a diverse group of counselors to help its physicians. These counselors provide up to eight visits per calendar year. These therapy sessions are free to physicians.
Medicaid expansion On June 30, 2020, the Oklahoma Medicaid Expansion Initiative, State Question 802, passed by a majority vote to expand Medicaid eligibility to adults ages 19-64 whose income is 138% of the federal poverty level or lower. This equates
to an estimated annual income of $16,970 for an individual or $34,846 for a family of four. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced approximately 190,000 individuals are now eligible for health coverage, thanks to Medicaid expansion made possible by the Affordable Care Act. On June 1, 2021, the state began accepting applications, and to date, over 120,000 people have applied for and were determined eligible to receive coverage. On July 1, these individuals received full Medicaid benefits, including access to primary and preventive care, emergency, substance abuse and prescription drug benefits.
Telehealth and telemedicine Telemedicine has been around for years, but was more frequently used during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to reports, SoonerCare members completed 11,941 telehealth visits in 2019. That number rose to 333,415 visits in 2020, an increase of 2,726% in just one year. Although Oklahoma was an early adopter of telemedicine, it has not been a significant source of patient care. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of reimbursement to physicians. On Nov. 1, 2021, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law a bill designed to ensure payment parity for physicians who care for patients through telemedicine. Insurance companies typically paid physicians a lower amount for telemedicine visits compared to in-person office visits for the same services. The new law ensures doctors receive the same amount for telemedicine. This legislation will help continue to expand the use of telemedicine, improving access for people, and ultimately, improving the health of Tulsa residents.
With an expected completion date of late 2024, the new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center is a collaborative effort to make services more accessible for those who served our country.
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On Oct. 15, 2021, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Veterans Hospital in Tulsa (VHiT) at the expanded Oklahoma State University Medical Center grounds. The $130 million project is a collaborative effort involving the federal, state, county, city, donors and OSU leaders. VHiT makes services more accessible for men and women who have served our country. The existing Kerr-Edmondson building is being remodeled into a 58-surgical bed hospital with the capacity
COURTESY GH2 ARCHITECTURE
Changes in Tulsa’s health care landscape
