COVID-19 was officially classified as a global pandemic on March 11 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The rate of fatality varies by age group, with the elderly being more at risk. The statistical projections by the Society of Critical Care Medicine anticipate that approximately 4.8 million people will be hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States. Some mathematical models predict that this new virus will infect over half the U.S. population.
CMS issued a waiver on March 13 designed to help hospitals and other healthcare facilities better respond to the surge in demand placed on them by the COVID-19 pandemic. The waiver allows CMS to bypass traditional rules, including Conditions of Participation when necessary, and aims to help organizations move patients through levels of care more quickly to free up needed hospital beds for critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Q: The use of telemedicine and telehealth has expanded dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. What should case managers be aware of when determining the most viable telemedicine options for patients?
As organizations respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number are turning to telemedicine to safely meet patient demand. “The current crisis is expanding people’s willingness to shift the paradigm both on the provider and patient side,” says Diane Iverson, RN, BSN, BS, ACM, CCM, a Baltimore-area case manager. “Systems are gearing up to expand services rapidly.”
