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Having been in the business of caring for people for decades, Dr. Andrew Barbash says he’s just about seen it all. And, throughout his experience, he said there is one simple step essential to providing quality care to patients – communication.
“Whether caring for an elderly parent who lives hundreds of miles away or reaching a leading expert quickly, today’s technology can ensure a patient gets the answers and assistance needed quickly through virtual care,” said Barbash, medical director of Neurosciences and Virtual Care Services, Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD and co-founder of NowDox.
Virtual care brings together patients, doctors, experts, caregivers and family members by using simple and easy-to-use chat and video applications, operating on a super-fast 4G LTE network.
It’s as easy as turning on your tablet or smartphone and pushing a couple buttons to connect online.
But it’s more than just video and chat between two people, it’s all about bringing the right people together to easily share data-rich sonograms, CT scans, MRIs, collaborate in real-time and improve patient care, said Barbash.
Technologies like 4G LTE give us the speed and bandwidth to complete tasks previously unimaginable on a wireless device, he added.
Barbash recalled a recent example where a woman was trying to manage her father’s sudden illness from hundreds of miles away. Unable to travel with her young children, she "visited" her mom and dad virtually, connected with caregivers and determined the best care plan for her father. She did not need to leave home but could, and did, follow-up online each day.
Barbash said the ease of using the technology and its convenience makes it a must have in his office. “Listen, I’m not a gadget guy. Really. And if I can do this, anyone can.”