Pandemic Perspectives

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of services my practice offers have been stopped. However, patients still call with concerns, and to allow us to offer advice safely, we are expanding our use of telemedicine solutions.  One technology that we have recently introduced is modmed Telehealth. We encourage patients to log into the PocketPatient app on their phones and engage with us via a virtual visit. While some diagnoses might require the use of specialist equipment such as OCT, we have found that many patient concerns can be addressed in a video call. Often, a red or irritated eye turns out to be a subconjunctival hemorrhage or a chalazion. By allowing us to diagnose these conditions remotely, telemedicine minimizes any potential exposure to COVID-19 for patients and staff, while still providing sound medical care.