Meghan Ross

A new telemedicine bill introduced in Congress this month would expand Medicare coverage for audio-only telehealth visits, mHealth Intelligence reported. Virtual visits that use telephone only, not video, have been a challenge for clinicians, as telehealth services exploded after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Regarding emerging trends in telemedicine and telehealth, remote monitoring also significantly dropped hospital readmission rates after total hip or knee replacement, a randomized trial in JAMA Network Open found. Text messages included content about hip or knee exercises, physical activity, and medication management. While the surgery team delivered the same instructions, “the text messaging may have provided reinforcement in real-time to…

Brian Dooreck, MD, of Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Centers in Pembroke Pines, Fla., has diagnosed colorectal cancer hundreds of times during his 15 years in practice. Last spring, he realized something important is often left out of conversations with patients: guidance on where patients can find reliable information and moral support. He began formulating a plan to fill this gap. In early September, Dooreck pitched his idea: the Colorectal Cancer Provider Outreach Program, a text message system to connect patients to these organizations and the free services they provide patients. Now, when gastroenterologists diagnose CRC, they can instruct their patient to text…