PCOM Family Medicine Introduces Telehealth Appointments
November 5, 2021As states across the country have responded to the rise and fall of COVID cases by
imposing, lifting and re-imposing restrictions, the growth of—and critical need for—virtual
meeting technology has skyrocketed. The impact on healthcare providers has been acute,
rapidly expanding the need for the traditional delivery model of in-person services
to include more, and better, telemedicine services. The PCOM Family Medicine practice on City Avenue has embraced this change through innovative technologies
designed to improve access to care and streamline the patient experience.
Telemedicine appointments enabled by virtual meeting technology
Operating through a grant secured by Harry Morris, DO ’78, MPH, professor and chair, family medicine, physicians at the City Avenue location have
begun using iPads and other technology to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients without
ever needing to step foot in the exam room.
Larry Finkelstein, DO ’87, FACOFP, professor and medical director of student wellness, family medicine, is encouraged
by the adoption of technology and the potential for improving the patient experience,
“We plowed through the shut down last year using telemedicine and we continue to do
so,” said Dr. Finkelstein. “Now with a unified platform using iPads, it’s exciting
to get this off and running.”
Telehealth poised for growth
As a medical school, PCOM is uniquely positioned to support our Family Medicine practice with students
not only eager to acquire hands-on training, but who are digital natives able to easily
navigate new technology. With virtual meeting technology poised for continued growth,
telemedicine has secured a place as a necessary tool to improve access to care and
deliver more services to more people.
As Lisa Finkelstein, DO ’87, a urologist in private practice in Wyoming and a consultant
on the project, pointed out in a recent Medpage Today article, telemedicine will be a critical part of healthcare delivery going forward.
“Telehealth has changed so much about the way we interact with our patients and provide
care,” said Finkelstein. “Instead of just ‘brick and mortar,’ ‘click and mortar’ should
be a mainstay in a new approach to delivering care.”
PCOM's Healthcare Centers serve the medical needs of the surrounding communities by providing a variety of
accessible healthcare services in-person and now, in some cases, your living room.
Following in the osteopathic tradition of “prevention,” the incorporation of telemedicine offers patients the opportunity
to address health concerns with their doctor before ever visiting an office. When
more comprehensive care is required, in-person visits are readily available and appropriate
referrals can be made when necessary.
Learn more about the services offered at Family Medicine at PCOM.
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About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands
of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists
who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms.
PCOM operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and school psychology, and graduate degrees in
applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic
medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, non profit leadership
and population health management, organizational development and leadership, physician
assistant studies, school psychology, and public health management and administration.
PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service
to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care
to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For more information, contact:
Daniel McCunney
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Email: danielmc1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304 | Cell:
267-449-1360