Page 9 - Layout 1

PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE

up visits. Treatment of patients
who require laboratory or radi-
ographic studies or where physi-
cal examination is required in
order to establish a diagnosis may
not be candidates for telemedi-
cine. The use of video compo-
nents to telemedicine such as
with smart phones may allow the
expansion in the types of patients
who can be adequately treated.
Another impediment to the de-
livery of care by telemedicine is
the lack of adequate broadband
access, especially prevalent in
rural areas. This does not exclude the limitations of many urban works. There is already data showing that it drives down the costs
neighborhoods as has been shown with the current problems for of emergency care. The question remains whether a year from now
virtual education in the school system. Current fixes which are those practices which currently use telemedicine will continue to
being applied in the face of educational requirements may allow offer it as an option. Certainly, decisions by CMS will have a role
wider use of telemedicine in all communities. This is especially in whether telemedicine continues to be a viable option or not. If
helpful in disadvantaged communities where patients must use the billing and coding for telemedicine does not work and, if re-
public transportation and often have limited funds. The expanded imbursement is not adequate, many practices may resort to con-
use of telemedicine has also allowed a reduction in the number of ventional medicine. However, if we as physicians continue to
visits to emergency centers for acute care. This has resulted in a provide the same amount of problem-solving care as we would
decreased cost for providing this emergency care. It is hoped that otherwise give, we will hopefully preserve this option for ourselves
with cost shifting these savings can be applied elsewhere in the and for our patients.
medical care delivery system.
Currently, the future of telemedicine is somewhat unclear. Once Gerald Greenfield, MD, is an Orthopedic Surgeon in Bexar County and
the COVID-19 crisis has been averted, the continued use of is the 2020 President of the Bexar County Medical Society.
telemedicine will be based on data showing how well it actually