Valley Health Offers New Services to Streamline Care

Telehealth, Respiratory Clinic, Phone Line Guide Patients to Best, Safest Care Option

Valley Health has recently implemented three services to streamline access to safe and timely COVID-19-related outpatient care: a COVID-19 Respiratory Care Phone Line, telehealth visits with providers, and a new Respiratory Care Clinic.

“The vast majority of patients who contract COVID-19 won’t require inpatient care in a hospital setting,” says Jeffrey Feit, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Valley Physician Enterprise. “We felt strongly that we needed a way to care for the community that provides a full spectrum of care for patients with respiratory complaints and reduces the chances of well patients and patients with chronic illnesses becoming sick when going to a regular office visit.”

COVID-19 Respiratory Care Phone Line

Telehealth at Valley Health Urgent Care Centers and Medical Practices

Following recent changes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow the broad use of telehealth visits by providers and health systems, several Valley Health Family Medicine, Urgent Care and Specialty offices successfully piloted a new platform this week that enables patients to be seen by providers from the comfort of their homes.

“We are committed to caring for patients with respiratory illness in the safest way possible, and also want to offer other patients an expedient way to be evaluated,” says Jacob Meza, Senior Director of Valley Regional Enterprises, a division of Valley Health. “By Monday, all Valley Health Urgent Care centers and most Valley Health medical practices will have telehealth in place.”

After making an appointment, the office determines if telehealth is a good option instead of, or in addition to, a face-to-face office visit. If so, the patient receives a link which, when clicked, puts them “in” the exam room, ready to see their provider.

The new platform does not require the user to download any new software and may be accessed with any iPhone, android phone, tablet or computer with a web camera, using Chrome, Safari or Firefox.

Visit www.valleyhealthlink.com/telehealth for a list of participating practices.

Respiratory Care Clinic

Patients who need an in-person provider visit now have a “next step” opportunity for care at a new outpatient Respiratory Care Clinic located adjacent to the COVID-19 test collection site at Rutherford Crossing in Winchester. Opened Thursday, March 26, the clinic is a resource for patients who need chest x-rays and other physical exams following a telehealth visit. Referral is required from a patient’s primary care physician. Watch for additional locations in other Valley Health communities.

Additional Resources

Looking for more info related to COVID-19? Head to the section of our website dedicated to COVID-19: www.valleyhealthlink.com/coronavirus.