VIRTUAL HOSPITALS

medical center are launching innovative ways to treat coronavirus patients

Risk of exposure to health care workers.

Sarah dallof has the story.

:00 :12 :29 :58 (nats: "how's your temperature?") doctoring... from a distance.

(nats) at atrium health's covid-19 virtual hospital in north carolina, medical staff are treating hundreds of patients.

(sot: dr. stephanie murphy - atrium health) "they get the opportunity to be taken care of where they're most comfortable, which is their home."

Symptoms and vital signs are monitored daily.

And in-home visits arranged for more serious cases and treatments- like i-vs and respiratory therapy.

Brandi rabon was one of the virtual hospital's first patients.

(sot: brandi rabon - virtual hospital patient) "they called me every single day and sometimes twice a day if i was feeling poorly to check on me."

More medical centers are turning toward forms of virtual care..

In an effort to conserve resources- like hospital beds... masks... and gloves.

And limit staff exposure to the virus.

In northern california..

Marin health medical center added two-way video screens to more than 90 rooms...including 10 i-c-u beds.

Nurses can check in as often as needed... no personal protective equipment required.

(sot: karin reese - chief nursing officer - marin health) "our nurses can looks at drips... and see you know 'what is the pump set on, what are the bags" you can look at ventilator settings, sites of lines