'People have embraced the shift to digital health. It’s one of the silver linings of the pandemic,' Baptist Health official says

A Baptist Health drive-thru vaccination clinic

Baptist Health, Kentucky's largest hospital system, says two major changes it made to cope with the pandemic are unlikely to remain temporary.

"In-your-car health care and on-your-couch telehealth are two Covid-19 driven innovations likely to stick around at Baptist Health hospitals in some form long after face coverings are consigned to the attic," the system said in a press release.

“Medicine’s delivery of healthcare has changed forever” due to the pandemic, Baptist Health CEO Gerard Colman said. “It created the need to think very differently about the delivery of care – such as how many patients should be in a waiting room.

“Our quick pivot allowed Baptist Health to safely provide care and help patients take care of their immediate medical needs, rather than delaying care. We’ve seen that these types of solutions – particularly digital solutions -- are popular with patients. We’ll continue to use these types of solutions, and build on them, in the future.”

The news release gave several examples.

"Patients taking blood-thinning medication need regular checks to ensure their clotting ability stays within a very narrow range," the release said. Too high, and they may bleed; too low, and clots may form. This is measured by the "international normalized ratio," which requires frequent monitoring.

"With hospitals and medical offices restricting access, INR monitoring was problematic, so Baptist Health Corbin took it outside and curbside, the release says. "In just a week, pharmacists and technicians created a system to test patients who never had to get out of their vehicles."

“This was more convenient for patients, many who were high-risk for Covid-19,” pharmacist Marissa Scent said. “We also expanded our curbside service for patients wishing to pick up medications without entering the hospital.” Baptist Health Richmond and Baptist Health Louisville did likewise.

Other hospitals led in other ways. Baptist Health Floyd, in New Albany, Ind., "pioneered drive-thru vaccinations, giving more than 42,000," and was Baptist Health Louisville followed suit.

When Baptist Health doctors' offices reopened, they used geolocation to detect when a patient arrived for an appointment, sending patients a message telling them to wait in the car for further instructions or to enter and check in.

"Digital health is as convenient as the couch, easing concerns about transportation, braving bad weather and exposure to Covid-19," the release said. "For health-care providers, it’s also been convenient and maintains vital connections with their patients. On the practical side, supply costs were trimmed and some staff were able to work remotely when offices were closed."

When the pandemic hit, Baptist Health said, it moved quickly to boost its digital capabilities for video appointments.

“Without digital health, there simply would not have been access for patients and providers to connect,” said Dr. Brett Oliver, the system's chief medical information officer. “Many routine visits would have been put off for a long time. Patients and providers both were able to remain safe in their homes, during very unknown times.”

Telehealth also aided behavioral health. It "gave staff some additional insight into where patients were (literally) coming from as they could virtually 'see' the patient’s daily living and surroundings," the release said.

“In just a few months, digital health advanced by years,” said Nick Sarantis, the system's director of digital health. “People have embraced the shift to digital health. It’s one of the silver linings of the pandemic.”