The mantra has now become a way of life: In the nearly nine months since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, the healthcare landscape has rapidly evolved to integrate mobile tools to support a proliferation of virtual care.
“We’ve adapted to whatever our new normal has become, and we’re looking back at how we can refine the process,” Norfleet says, adding that the public health emergency marks “a catalyst for innovation” — and that it’s unlikely providers and patients will fully revert to their old routines when conditions improve.
That’s due in part to major systemic changes to telehealth.
“We’ve relieved some of the regulatory requirements for physicians so they can cross state lines and practice, and also addressed reimbursement challenges,” she says.
