Virtual visits remain valuable to patients, physicians

BY ADAM CULLER

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians utilized telehealth to manage their patients’ health while also keeping them out of harm’s way. Many providers have chosen to continue caring for their patients virtually.

According to a study published by the American Medical Association in 2022, 85% of physicians indicated that they offered some form of telehealth. Over 80% also indicated patients have benefitted from better access to health care through the expansion of nationwide telehealth services.

“What we’ve found is that (telehealth) has allowed for more intensive health management,” said Amy Johnson, a nurse practitioner with Centra Medical Group and president of Bedford County Farm Bureau.

“Where in the past we might’ve said to a patient, ‘We’ll see you in three months,’ now we can do a quick, virtual follow-up at three or four weeks,” she added. “With that, doctors get the benefit of constant patient monitoring, and the ability to pick up on patients’ problems before they become crisis situations.”

Johnson noted that she continues to use telehealth to manage her patients’ medications and monitor chronic conditions. In addition, virtual visits often are the best follow-up visits for acute care and mental health services. With the advent of smart technology, Johnson explained, many specialists are leveraging that resource.

Cardiologists, for example, can monitor their patients’ pacemakers and defibrillators remotely via cellular transmission. Endocrinologists can actively track patients’ blood sugar through their continuous glucose monitors rather than waiting for traditional three-month follow-up appointments.

Another advantage of some telehealth practices, Johnson observed, is patient convenience.

In instances where a standard follow-up appointment may require patients to miss work or drive a long distance for a five-minute visit, virtual visits do not require the same time commitment.

The convenience is even greater for patients with ambulatory issues.

Instead of risking injury getting in and out of their vehicle or medical office, patients can use smart devices to monitor their blood pressure, heart rate, pulse oximetry and weight. Those vitals then may be transmitted directly to their physicians or case managers, who are able to pick up on negative trends before they develop into larger issues.

“One of the great things about telehealth and virtual visits is that patients can follow up whenever and wherever it’s convenient for them,” Johnson said. “For less-mobile patients or those who live in rural areas, these services are invaluable.”

Update membership records to get timely information

If you’ve dropped your landline, moved to a different residence or changed your email address, Virginia Farm Bureau wants to know.

Current contact information is the key to connecting Virginia Farm Bureau members with news and information about agriculture, insurance, membership and safety.

To check whether your contact information is up to date, log in to your account on vafb.com and click on “profile,” which is found in the red bar in the main menu. If you need to update your email address or phone number, click on the drop-down menu to do so.

Alternatively, customers can call their local Farm Bureau office and share contact information with a staff member. Customers should always contact their local office when a change of address occurs.

While an accurate phone number can help customers connect with their agents, providing a current email address also unlocks access to Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co.’s paperless option. Policyholders who choose paperless enrollment receive email alerts when policy documents are available, and have around-the-clock access to those documents and statements. Payments also can be made online.

Customers with an active email address attached to their policies can enroll in paperless services by logging into their account on vafb.com.