As a hospital administrator, I wanted telemedicine for my small rural hospital so we could better know when our patients really did need to be transferred to larger hospitals with access to specialists. Then, I began working with telehealth networks across the Northwest and Pacific. I saw numerous wins for patients and providers by the adoption of technology.
In 2017, I finally got to try out telehealth for myself with a virtual second opinion that provided me some guidance and lead to a diagnosis and treatment... finally. AdvanceMedical is a benefit offered by my husband's employer and it was the turning point in my care.
Fast forward a few months and my hands and fingers ache and are painful. In addition, I could not type with more than two fingers. My ability to grip and grasp had improved with IVIG therapy, but my hand strength and dexterity still needed improvement. I came across a telehealth physical therapy group (via Linkedin) and it reminded me I had heard of this use of the technology in my telemedicine days.
I contacted RehabSmarter and scheduled an appointment with a hand therapist. They use a portal to collect health history and have me complete questions about my needs. During my appointments, I held my hands up for the camera to show the therapist as she assessed me and later had me perform some exercises.
It worked our well for me, including insurance picking up a portion of the charges for my three treatments. I continue to do the exercises and have shown improvement, such as sometimes typing with all fingers. When I can't it is due to nerve issues, not the atrophy I suspected when I first made the appointment.
As I continue on my recovery journey, I won't hesitate to turn to telemedicine/telehealth. Who knows, one day I might not even need to drive to UCLA and back for a check up.
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