As 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.
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.”
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.
Established 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, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, 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. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. 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.
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