Restoration Health utilized telehealth prior to COVID-19, so the challenge was not to establish a platform, but to build on the existing foundation. Truth be told, my patients in the urban community in Detroit, Michigan, where my practice is located, had not embraced the idea of trading sitting in my office or exam room for a visit with seeing me via video and taking their vitals prior to COVID-19.
Most of my patients have adapted quite well and are glad to know that their medications and services, as well as their connection with their trusted provider, will not be severed nor interrupted by this virus! They are also thankful for avoiding unnecessary COVID exposure.
Now is a great time to establish or expand a telehealth practice. I have had requests from many patients even in other states, because providers have closed their doors without even as much as a voice mail, leaving patients with no way to obtain blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma medications.
Many of my telehealth visits are to follow up with patients who already have blood pressure and glucose monitoring equipment in the home. For those who do not, some companies will place the needed equipment for remote monitoring as well as physical assessment aides in the house, in some instances, at no cost to the provider. There are many types of encounters possible via telehealth, and providers should take full advantage of the opportunity to provide a wide range of services via this platform.
  I have some patients who do not have access to video platforms, so we have to do audio-only encounters. Though the reimbursement is minimal, I am grateful to be able to accommodate anyone who has access to a telephone during this time when many communities experience higher than normal difficulty accessing needed medical care.
This is an exciting time to be a provider; many of the barriers to delivering care utilizing nontraditional methods have been removed.  Independent nurse practitioners are now capable of providing both telehealth and telemedicine. Before COVID, few payers were reimbursing for virtual visits, now all of them have come aboard. Â
 I am thankful for telehealth platforms that allow me to visit patients seamlessly from text to telephone, and for CMS loosening of guidelines so that I could qualify to provide services as a family np. I am certain that telehealth provided by Restoration Health will be a part of the Detroit healthcare community well into the future.
If you are a nurse practitioner interested in establishing a telehealth or telemedicine practice or expanding your current practice to offer these services, D. Blakey FNP consulting can show you how. A basic understanding of billing and coding is essential to maximize reimbursement opportunities for telehealth. We have e-books and online courses to help you establish that needed foundation. We offer practice start-up services and ongoing support, tailored to the needs and budget of the client.
Contact Dequindra Blakey:
Website: https://dblakeyconsulting.com/
Email: dblakeyconsulting@gmail.com
Phone: (734) 489-9863
