Local clinics turn to telemedicine for everyday appointments

Local clinics are embracing telemedicine as a way to help patients with everyday medical concerns during the coronavirus pandemic.

News.

Many oregonians have a close eye on the coronavirus crisis, but healthcare professionals are reminding them to also keep an eye on everyday health.

Kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg shows us how local clinics are accommodating normal check-ups with telemedicine.

Trt : 1:35 telemedicine on the rise 0:00 dr. brooke kyle/ obgyn, women's care.

0:30 chris lueneburg 0:51 angela wilson/ceo, eugene gastrointronology consultants 1:21 it's a process anyone who's been to the doctor's office is familiar with... "we're connected!!!"

But with a new twist... women's care obgyn in springfield, says in a matter of minutes, patients get a text with a link to a video chat... and are connected to medical assistants who update medical history... and then your doctor for an exam.

"normally i have my electronic medical records on a different computer..."

Dr. brooke kyle says though they aren't in the same room, things like incisions, lesions and swelling are easy to examine over the camera... and the process enables a whole new kind of communication... "i've been practicing for almost 20 years now and i felt like it was my new first day.

I was able to see patients in a new way that i haven't been able to see patients before."

Some patients require urgent-in person care... healthcare professinals tell us the biggest challenge is making sure patients are ready to embrace telemedicine.

"i actually spoke to southhilyard clinic in eugene today the same way they would a patient.

All i had to do was go to their video client website, put in a code and just like that, i'm connected."

According to the oregon department of financial regulation, under state law, most comprehensive health insurance plans are required to cover in- network telehealth service... good news for eugene g-i, who says elective procedures make up 65 percent of their business.

"we decided we needed to move to telemedicine at that point, for one: to help with that piece of our business being gone, but also our patients because we noticed patients geting a little nervous to come into our office."

A good deal for patients and healthcare workers alike.

Reporting in eugene i'm chris lueneburg kezi 9 news.

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