Relief Telemed’s Virtual Visit Telemedicine app has the functionality to dispatch a nurse during the visit who will arrive at the patients home in full PPE and is capable of not only administering the COVID-19 testing but also obtaining necessary vital signs, including a full array of diagnostics and therapeutics as directed by the physician.

The nurse dispatch feature while not originally designed for COVID-19 has been modified by the developer to increase testing during this pandemic while allowing the patient to remain safely in quarantine pending the results.

The redesigned ReliefTelemed app is currently available in Louisiana which is an COVID-19 epicenter but with the emergency orders enacted throughout the country it is hyper-scalable.

Dr. Ronald Andrews, the founding CEO of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine Associates stated: “I am excited to announce a potentially life-changing collaboration with Woman’s Hospital that will provide comprehensive Diabetic medical education tools, tips and resources to our mutual patients and the community at-large.” This public education initiative will be available to both new and previously diagnosed patients, and it will include lifestyle modification, diet, exercise, medication management, monitoring and complications. Patients also will have access to “education on the go” services at home, at the grocery store or in restaurants using the Relief Telemed online platform where Dr. Andrews serves as Medical Director.

About Pediatric & Internal Medicine Associates

Founded in 2004, Pediatric & Internal Medicine (PIMA) is a patient-centered, internal and family medicine provider located in Baton Rouge, LA. Dr. Ronald Andrews, MD, who is Board Certified in Internal Medicine by The American Board of Internal Medicine and who has over 15 years practicing Internal Medicine and Pediatrics in multiple inpatient and outpatient clinical settings serves as PIMA’s CEO and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Andrews obtained his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, and he completed his residency training in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics from LSU Health Sciences Center and Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, LA. Dr. Andrews also is the director of Internal Medicine Hospitalist Service and Pediatric Emergency Assessment Center at Woman’s Hospital.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Andrews participates in Medicated Assistance Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Substance Abuse. He also is the Medical Director for Relief Telemed.  Dr. Andrews is a member of the American College of Physicians, the Louisiana Medical Society, the East Baton Rouge Medical Society (NMA-Affiliate Chapter) and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. Follow him on Twitter (@DrRonAndrews) and Instagram (@DrRonAndrews) for more information.

About Woman’s Hospital

Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is one of the first specialty hospitals for women and infants. Since opening in 1968, it has welcomed more than 300,000 babies, making it one of the largest delivery services in the country and the largest in Louisiana. Additionally, Woman’s operates the highest-level neonatal intensive care unit in the state and cares for infants who are extremely premature, are critically ill or require surgical intervention. The hospital is also recognized for its expertise in mammography as well as breast and gynecologic cancer care. As a private, nonprofit organization, all funds are reinvested into the hospital to continue Woman’s mission to improve the health of women and infants through the latest technology, a highly qualified staff and critical community programs and services.

Interesting article on the implementation of digital health and medication. The issue of virtual care moves onward…

Article: OIG OKs Free Phones in mHealth Project Targeting Medication Adherence

“The Office of the Inspector General has given the green light to an mHealth project that will offer free phones to qualified participants who are taking a digital therapeutic to measure medication adherence.”

Read: HHS OIG Ruling

(via @mhealthintel)