At the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, as schools, work, and everything possible became virtual, healthcare was at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Telehealth became the obvious and, for many, the only option available to meet healthcare needs. Many reached out to South Central Telehealth Resource Center for technical assistance and support. When compared to the same time period last year, the SCTRC saw a five to six hundred percent increase in these types of requests. From policy to coding to “where do I even begin,” the SCTRC provided guidance, resources, information, and established new contacts across the nation. Some who reached out were experienced in telehealth and wanted clarification for the changing landscape, but many practices, clinics, and programs were trying telehealth for the first time.
In an effort to be proactive, the SCTRC developed many other ways to be available and assist in this new virtual world. Free weekly webinars on a variety of subjects: telehealth for beginners, policy, community health centers… View some of the recorded events here:
https://learntelehealth.org/2020/05/weekly-telehealth-101-round-up-webinar-archive/
A technical assistance resource page:
https://learntelehealth.org/telehealth_assistance/
Through the CARES Act, all the TRCs received additional funding to increase these endeavors. We are currently in the process of developing a project plan, which will allow for more proactive projects, more collaboration with new and existing partners, and many other opportunities to promote and support telehealth in our region and beyond.
