EAST POINT, Ga. — Most of the metro Atlanta area moves into its third week of some form of "stay-at-home" order, and the numbers of COVID-19 cases have yet to peak in the state of Georgia.
Healthcare facilities across the area have been forced to adapt their treatment practices, particularly when it comes to at-risk populations such as seniors.
Primary care providers or PCPs have been the first line of defense when dealing with those who are high-risk or simply anxious and needing answers about how to stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic
One local healthcare organization, Iora Primary Care who specializes in care for older adults on Medicare, has been focusing on a variety of non-traditional ways to ensure the safety of their patient population.
“Very important that we remember that everybody not only has the capability of contracting the coronavirus but giving it to someone else," says Dr. Monica Williams, Iora Primary Care Practice Medical Director.
The medical professionals at Iora have been offering telehealth services and virtual visits to their clients. These swerves allow clients to use their smartphones, tablets or laptops to video conference with their primary care provider or specialty provider from the safety and security of their own homes.
Iora has been focused on the importance of providing seniors the critical resource of primary care and offering telehealth options to seniors in a diversity of ways:
- Doctors on call 24/7
- Virtual visits - made possible by HIPAA-compliant technology and partnerships
- Population-based care - using processes that identify high-risk acutely or chronically ill patients
- On-going patient outreach
In addition to traditional healthcare concerns, Iora also has behavioral health specialists on-staff to advise clients on how to stay connected with their friends and loved ones as well as provide techniques on managing stress.
For more information about Iora Primary Care facilities, visit their website.
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