COVID Chronicle

In April alone Northern Light Health hosted more than 36,000 telehealth visits!

Topping our list of concerns was how to continue providing care to Maine people who were under a stay-at-home order. Adding to the confusion, hospitals had postponed elective procedures, leaving many people reticent to come to hospitals due to fear of COVID-19. Hospital leaders became increasingly worried people might put off care they need. Fortunately, Northern Light Health had a strong telehealth foundation that could rapidly expand services. The first thing we did was move telehealth services to a HIPAA secure Zoom platform. Then, we informed patients about our increased telehealth offerings, letting them know that we are here for you, no matter where you are. A robust marketing campaign was quickly put together and we shared our messages far and wide on social media, web, TV & radio, and in print. Mainers Love Telehealth In April alone Northern Light Health hosted more than 36,000 telehealth visits! The feedback we are getting is highly positive. For example, a mother in Presque Isle worried her young son wouldn’t receive his speech therapy from Northern Light AR Gould Hospital. Imagine her relief when he easily transitioned to a ‘warm and welcoming’ telehealth environment with his therapist. In Portland, Northern Light Home Care & Hospice and Northern Light Mercy Hospital leveraged the power of telehealth in the city’s homeless shelter. A patient there was being monitored for COVID-19 exposure when a nurse noticed the individual was having trouble walking and discovered ulcers and swelling in the patient’s feet. She was able to get the patient registered for services and seen by a primary care doctor using her own iPhone ¬- from the homeless shelter. With a diagnosis stemming from having constantly wet feet, the patient was given a medication, dry socks and shoes and was on the road to recovery.

MAINE MADE US Connected

NORTHERN LIGHT TELEHEALTH, ACCESS TO CARE IN UNUSUAL TIMES. We're still here for you, even while times have changed. Through Northern Light Telehealth, patients can securely connect with a healthcare provider from home. With a variety of services offered, we're able to meet the individual needs of Mainers. Talk to a Northern Light Health provider about experiencing quality care from home with Telehealth.

NorthernLightHealth.org/Telehealth

17