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In the wake of COVID-19, telemedicine has become the only means for delivering patient care for many physician groups. As healthcare providers adapted to treating patients virtually, patients likewise adapted to disrupted routines. For those dependent on prescription medication to treat or manage a medical condition, “going to the pharmacy” was an errand replaced by curbside pickup, delivery service or mail order.
Necessity is the mother of adoptionWith no other options, the physician-patient interaction went digital after years of discussion about the promise of telehealth. CMS approval of pilot hospital-at-home programs accelerated adoption further. These alternative care sites kept patients free from the risks of hospital-acquired infections and reserved empty beds for possible surges. Program results largely demonstrated that unchanged patient outcomes outside of the hospital se…