Telemedicine boom during COVID-19
BY ALEJANDRA
O’CONNELL-DOMENECH
Interest in telemedicine
in New York grows during
coronavirus outbreak
In the age of coronavirus
induced isolation,
telemedicine is seeing an
unprecedented surge in
interest as public offi cials
urge people to stay out of
emergency rooms and prevent
an avoidable strain
on hospital staff and resources.
President Donald Trump
touted telemedicine and his
administration even loosened
restrictions on reimbursements
for telehealth
services through Medicare
along with easing rules on
patient privacy that have
plagued the industry.
Before the coronavirus
pandemic, the telehealth
service industry was
steadily growing. According
to Fair Health Inc., the
industry saw a 50 percent
growth from 2016 to 2017.
The industry is still small,
though; last year only one
out of 10 people used a telehealth
service, according to
a July J.D. Power survey.
One telemedicine company,
Plushcare, reports
that revenue is up by 70
percent now from the same
time last year. Asthma-related
respiratory visits via
the platform have jumped
by 124 percent over the last
few weeks and other respiratory
visits are up by 62
percent.
Other telemedicine apps
like Amwell, GoodRx and
HeyDoctor have also seen
a spike in appointments.
Since the novel coronavirus
landed in the United
States, Amwell has seen a
158 percent increase in app
usage nationwide and by
650 percent in Washington
state, according to Quartz.
Some of the benefi ts of
telemedicine apps are their
accessibility, given that
one has internet, and cost.
First-time doctor visits using
Plushcare cost around
$99, and $69 for an Amwell
appointment. The process
also allows for patients to
avoid unnecessary steps
like taking a urine test before
How to stay healthy from home while quarantined
BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, APR. 17-23, 2020 BTR
being prescribed an
antibiotic.
But telemedicine is not
perfect.
According to Plushcare
provider Dr. Berliner, some
patients fi nd it diffi cult to
navigate the platform on
iPhones, iPads or computer
screens and have trouble
taking photographs to help
physicians diagnose things
like strep throat. There are
limits to what a doctor can
diagnose via a screen.
Physicians are also unable
to prescribe certain
kinds of controlled medications
via telehealth devices.
Although a great addition
to the medical fi eld,
nothing can replace an inoffi
ce visit with a physician,
Berliner added.
This story fi rst appeared
on amny.com.
Photo via Getty Images
BY BETH DEDMAN
With gyms closed and
grocery lines a mile long,
it can be diffi cult to sustain
healthy living within
the confi nes of quarantine,
but it is still possible
to promote health and
well-being from home.
The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
advises that half
of every meal should be
made up of vegetables in a
variety of colors. This increases
the chances of intaking
all of the essential
vitamins and minerals to
maintain a healthy diet.
Vegetables and fruits
can be stored in the freezer
for months at a time. While
shelf-stable options are
good to have in stock, the
HHS recommends cutting
down on refi ned sugars by
eating whole grains and
looking for ingredients
such as brown rice, quinoa
and oatmeal.
Low-fat milks and lean
proteins, such as chicken,
fi sh and eggs are a good
way to keep energy levels
up without packing on
quarantine weight. Seafood
is particularly full
of protein, minerals and
fatty acids, which keep
your body from storing
weight.
Diets composed of refi
ned foods and sugars can
increase the risk of depression
by 25-35% compared
to diets that are
high in vegetables, fruits,
unprocessed grains and
seafood, according to Harvard
Medical School.
About 95% of serotonin,
a neurotransmitter that
regulates sleep, appetite,
moods and reduces pain,
is produced in the gastrointestinal
tract.
Exercising for at least 30
minutes a day, fi ve days a
week can help produce serotonin,
maintain weight,
reduce health risks and
improve mental function,
according to the Centers
for Disease Control.
Running and bicycling
outside are great ways to
increase cardio-activity,
as long as there is a sixfoot
buffer between people.
YouTube and other digital
platforms have hundreds
of at-home workout guides
that can be done even in
a tiny apartment in New
York City.
The CDC recommends
limiting alcohol and drug
use as they can disrupt
natural neurotransmitter
production, which can
lead to more symptoms of
anxiety and depression.
Reducing the intake of
notifi cations, social media
posts and news stories
about the pandemic
can help reduce stress and
anxiety, according to the
CDC.
Meditation and physical
relaxation can also combat
those anxieties and stabilize
the body’s rhythm and
fl ow. Evidence from multiple
studies shows that meditation
may reduce blood
pressure, symptoms of irritable
bowel syndrome,
fl are-ups in people who
have had ulcerative colitis,
symptoms of anxiety
and depression and it may
help people with insomnia,
according to the National
Center for Complementary
and Integrative Health.
Taking time to unwind
and reaching out to
loved ones digitally can
also improve mood, cognitive
function and mental
health. Physical selfisolation
is necessary for
reducing the spread of
COVID-19, but emotional
self-isolation can lead to a
negative mental state.
“Coping with stress will
make you, the people you
care about, and your community
stronger,” according
to the CDC website.”
Additional tips, resources
and helplines
are available through the
CDC https://www.cdc.gov/
coronavirus/2019-ncov/
daily-life-coping/managing
stress-anxiety.html.
This story fi rst appeared
on amNY.com
Photo via Getty Images
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