All you need is a stable internet connection and a smartphone or computer with a webcam.

The option is especially useful for patients who live far from their provider’s office, have difficulty getting around or are pressed for time. Because it can be more efficient, telehealth has made more appointments available for some specialties, such as headache medicine, that sometimes have more patients who need care than trained specialists available to provide it.

How telehealth works

With Norton Telehealth, there are three options: Adult primary and specialty care, pediatric primary and specialty care, and Norton eCare. Primary and specialty care visits are best through Norton Telehealth to visit with a health care provider you’ve seen before. For urgent care and minor illnesses, Norton eCare is available 24/7.

All three options allow you to connect through a secure video connection to visit face-to-face. Visits are conducted through MyNortonChart.

Related: 5 steps to get ready for your online medical appointment

Norton Telehealth accepts most insurance plans. Primary and specialty care visits typically are reimbursed by insurers as conventional office visits, but check with your insurance provider to make sure.

Of course some parts of an office visit, such as collecting samples for lab testing, must be done in person. At Norton Healthcare, the system has added a drive-thru facility.

Norton Healthcare Express Services, at the corner of Breckenridge Lane and Taylorsville Road, offers drive-thru convenience for diagnostic testing, COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and lab work with a provider referral seven days a week.

Insurers typically cover telehealth services such as Norton eCare at the same rate as an office visit, but check with your insurance company.

The post How does telehealth work? appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare, announced the new concept in medical care in May 2020 after the success of Norton Healthcare’s pop-up drive-thru respiratory clinics launched this spring in response to keeping patients and staff safe and healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. Services offered included hospital pre-admission testing and COVID-19 testing.

“COVID-19 taught us a great deal about new ways we can provide medical care to our community, including drive-thru testing centers and expanded telehealth services,” said Cox. “We heard from our community that they liked the convenience of these drive-thru centers, so we developed a way to expand services beyond those for COVID-19 in a permanent location.”

“After thoughtful planning and construction, this concept is now a reality. Services will be provided in a covered, climate-controlled building, allowing patients to remain in their vehicles for most services.”

The building is part of a parcel of land Norton Healthcare purchased in 2019. The rest of the land and existing structure is being renovated for the relocation of CPA Lab, a division of Norton Healthcare.

The architect for Norton Healthcare Express Services is TEG Architects and Abel Construction is the contractor. The total investment for the project is $1.85 million, which includes the structure and testing and diagnostic equipment. The facility employs nine people who will oversee the seven-day operations

Norton Healthcare Express Services is primarily a referral-only location, and patients must have a provider’s order to be seen, with the exception of existing Norton Healthcare patients seeking flu shots. This allows providers offering Norton Telehealth and Norton eCare services the ability to give patients, including those who are immunocompromised, a no-contact option to receive care.

The post Norton Healthcare opening Express Services drive-thru outpatient testing to increase patient convenience and complement telehealth services appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Norton Cancer Institute and all of Norton Healthcare have developed a series of protocols to help protect you and the community. All Norton Healthcare facilities have resumed operations and implemented additional measures to help stem the spread of the coronavirus.

As a cancer survivor, am I at higher risk of getting sick from the coronavirus?

You may have a weakened immune system from your past cancer treatments, which can make you more susceptible to having complications from COVID-19. Check with your provider about your situation.

What can I do if I have cancer or have completed treatment?

Some cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can weaken your immune system.

For now, the best way to prevent a coronavirus infection is to avoid exposure to the virus. For cancer patients, that means following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for people with high risk of contracting COVID-19.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and before and after coming in contact with others.
• Stay home as much as possible.
• Make sure you have access to several weeks of medication and supplies in case you need to stay home for prolonged periods of time.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, including doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, countertops, phones, handles, faucets, sinks and toilets.

If you must go out in public:

• Stay at least 6 feet away from other people.
• Avoid crowded places.
• Wear a cloth face covering; be careful not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth when removing it; and wash your hands right after removal.

Should I continue getting cancer treatments at a medical facility?

Norton Cancer Institute and Norton Healthcare have implemented steps to keep you safer when coming for your cancer treatments.

Patients now wait outside the building or in their cars rather than in a waiting room and go directly into the treatment area. Treatment areas and high-touch common areas are frequently cleaned, with hospital-grade disinfectants that are more effective than supermarket wipes. Also, we have plenty of supplies such as disinfectant and personal protective equipment for your safety and the community’s.

If you take oral cancer drugs, you may be able to have prescribed treatments sent directly to you, so you don’t have to go to a pharmacy.

Norton Telehealth may be an option for some follow-up visits. Discuss with your provider whether the convenience and social distancing benefits of telehealth are right for your next visit.

What should I do if I participate in a clinical trial?

Contact your provider or clinical trial team. Special measures may have been implemented as part of your trial.

The Institutional Review Boards work with investigators to make changes that will provide flexibility while maintaining patient safety.

This is all scary — can I get help just coping emotionally?

Coping with cancer in the face of the coronavirus pandemic can bring up a wide range of feelings you’re not used to dealing with.

The Norton Cancer Institute Behavioral Oncology Program is staffed by a team trained and equipped to care for the emotional and mental health needs of patients and their families.

Don’t hesitate to take advantage of Norton Cancer Institute Resource Centers. At five locations in Louisville and Southern Indiana, we offer patients and their families a place to turn for support, assistance and education. Our centers provide personal attention to address patients’ physical and emotional needs before, during and after cancer treatment. Our centers’ mission is to offer comfort as well as to educate.

The post Answers to questions Norton Cancer Institute patients may have about coronavirus appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Norton Telehealth and ‘virtual hospital’ innovations accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic so patients can get care while practicing social distancing.

The shift prompted Steven D. Glassman, M.D., to make the model available to Norton Leatherman Spine patients undergoing significant spine procedures such as fusions, scoliosis and other procedures that involve implanting instruments to help stabilize the spine. For certain patients, it means they potentially can skip a stop at a sometimes costly rehabilitation facility after their surgery.

“The idea of ‘virtual hospital’ is to be able to provide at home some of the more standard monitoring done in the hospital that can just as well be done remotely,” said Dr. Glassman, an orthopedic spine surgeon and medical director of Norton Leatherman Spine. “There are people who don’t need to be in the hospital, but they’re not quite ready to go home.”

To help these patients, Norton Leatherman Spine is sending them home with oxygen saturation monitors and other monitoring equipment. They also receive frequent telehealth visits from home either by phone or video with a nurse, who will check on blood pressure, oxygen saturation and other vital signs.

“A lot of those things don’t need physical presence. Even some physical therapy is possible remotely,” said Dr. Glassman, who is also a professor of orthopedics at the University of Louisville.

Patients undergoing significant spine procedures typically spend three or four days in the hospital recovering from surgery and then either are discharged home or sent to a rehab facility. They often prefer not to go to another facility but are nervous about being home, according to Dr. Glassman.

“There’s some fear. They want some oversight,” Dr. Glassman said. “They may simply need reminders about the proper way to get out of bed or how to use a walker.”

The post Telehealth and ‘virtual hospital’ allow some spine surgery patients to go home sooner appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Sometimes, it just may seem easier to grit through the pain, but that’s changing.

Online migraine treatment through platforms like Norton Telehealth is making it easier to meet with a provider and cutting the wait — from months to a couple weeks, for many — to see a board-certified specialist.

“Telehealth is a service we have always wanted to provide. There have been a series of studies that have shown it to be safe and effective for patients with headache disorders,” said Brian M. Plato, D.O., FAHS, neurologist and headache specialist with Norton Neuroscience Institute.

The COVID-19 outbreak led to an expansion and acceptance of telehealth as a safer way to get medical care. For migraine patients especially, Norton Telehealth has been a timesaver that allows them to meet with their specialist online and get any prescriptions ordered.

It also has made it easier to get an appointment. Telehealth reduces much of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a visit. Updating the patient’s chart after the visit, for instance, is faster. Also, there are few late and missed appointments, which improves efficiency.

And each visit tends to focus more on exchanging information, leading to the same level of care in less time.

A study performed by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center tracked migraine patients throughout a calendar year and found no significant difference in patient outcomes between patients who attended in-person physician visits versus those who had online telehealth care.

Online migraine and headache treatment a ‘natural fit’

“Thankfully, advancements in telehealth have opened new doors for us to provide equally safe and effective consultation from the convenience of a virtual platform,” Dr. Plato said, adding that headaches can occur more frequently and become more difficult to treat if the patient puts off care.

“Headache disorders and telehealth are really a natural fit,” Dr. Plato said. “Many times we don’t need to conduct further exams after the first visit. We’re just following up and talking with patients to get updates on symptoms, responses to treatment, or addressing any questions or concerns they may have. A lot of this can be done pretty seamlessly in a virtual setting.”

Norton Neuroscience Institute patients have access to board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners with additional certification from the National Headache Foundation and resource centers that help educate patients and their families about diagnoses and treatments.

The post Telehealth allows migraine and headache patients to get help faster appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

Man approaches with a baseball cap over his nose and mouth: “I forgot my mask. Do you have any disposables?”

Employee: “Don’t worry about it. They make us wear one, but I think it’s overkill especially now that things are opening up.”

Actually, as the economy reopens, it’s even more important that we don’t let down our guard — or mask.

Social distancing fatigue is widespread, and we’re all eager to return to normal. As Kentucky and Indiana join other states in gradually reopening businesses that were closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, it may begin to feel as if the threat has passed, but diligence is still needed.

“Restrictions may have changed, but our bodies haven’t,” said Christina M. Breit, M.D., internal medicine physician with Norton Community Medical Associates ­– Mallard Creek. “The majority of people still don’t have immunity, and there’s no cure or vaccine yet. We know a lot more than we did in March, and we’re in a much better place to care for people. But we still need to be smart as things start opening back up.”

But if you’ve already scaled back your social distancing efforts and nothing has happened, you’re fine to keep returning to normal, right?

“Unfortunately not,” Dr. Breit said. “The incubation period for this virus can last up to 14 days. Many patients have unknowingly carried COVID-19 for days. It’s important to remember that transmission can occur even through an asymptomatic carrier.”

Why do I need to be careful? I’m young and healthy.

“While it is true that the majority of COVID-19 complications have been in patients who were older and/or had underlying health conditions, young, healthy people still can be infected and become seriously or critically ill themselves. Furthermore, they also can pass the virus on to somebody at a higher risk. Being a good neighbor not only protects these vulnerable populations, but also helps us prevent medical resources from being overwhelmed,” Dr. Breit said.

Wait, I thought we already ‘flattened the curve’…

“We certainly did. We’ve done a tremendous job in our state, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” Dr. Breit said.  “If we’re not careful, we could see additional spikes. More mobility in the community is going to create more opportunities for transmission. You and your loved ones still can be infected, so please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and others.”

So what can you do to stay safer?

Many of the same behaviors we’ve been practicing since March are going to continue to be important moving forward:

• Frequent and diligent hand hygiene
• Disinfecting surfaces
• Avoiding touching our face, mouth and eyes
• Wearing masks
• Social distancing
• Continuing curbside/contactless transactions
• Keeping up to date on the latest developments from health experts and government officials
• Protecting vulnerable populations

Reopening businesses makes following these behaviors more important than ever. As people return to retail stores, offices, gyms, places of worship, hair salons and other public areas, there are going to be more chances for the virus to spread.

“That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy any of these things,” Dr. Breit said. “It just requires all of us to remember that even though things are starting to feel like they’re returning to normal, there’s work still left to be done.”

Many projection models warn that reopening the economy could result in more deaths.

“Forecasting the trajectory of this unprecedented virus is extremely difficult. Nevertheless, seeing these models use different methodology to reach similar conclusions could be worth noting,” Dr. Breit said.

Being careful not to overindulge in the reopening doesn’t mean avoiding everything outside of your home. Putting off seeking medical attention can lead to serious health issues down the line. To make sure facilities are clean and safer for patients, Norton Healthcare has implemented numerous stringent controls and cleaning policies designed to protect against COVID-19. Many patients also can receive care through Norton Telehealth.

Telehealth visits allow patients to conveniently receive care from the comfort of their own homes and reduce the possibility of exposure.

“Ill patients can be screened and routed for treatment and evaluation. Meanwhile, healthy patients can be screened to see if their concern requires coming in or if treatment can be provided remotely,” Dr. Breit said.

Finding more creative solutions like telehealth will be important as people begin to resume pre-pandemic behaviors.

“The last few months have been full of stress and sacrifice, and we, as a community, deserve a pat on the back for the way we’ve responded. Just please don’t forget what’s still at stake. There will come a day when things are back to normal. The quickest and safest way for us to get there is to be responsible, and conscientious, as things reopen.” Dr. Breit said.

The post As economy slowly reopens, it’s no time to let down your mask appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

To be safer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she stopped meeting her doctors face to face whenever possible and started visiting with them by video.

“I think this has been one of the best inventions for medical science,” Misty said. “I think this is super easy. It doesn’t put any pressure on patients to get up, get dressed, because some days you just don’t want to. You just want to lie back in your chair.”

Misty said communication with oncologist Michael F. Driscoll, M.D., and other specialists at Norton Cancer Institute has been just as effective as in-person visits.

“I think it’s just as personal because he’s in his office and he’s talking directly to you. He isn’t distracted. He’s focused on what you’ve got going on,” she said.

In October 2017, Misty was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroendocrine carcinoma, a hormone-fueled cancer that began in her pancreas and has spread to her lymph nodes and other organs.

Oncology visits in PJs with coffee

Before she started using Norton Telehealth, Misty would travel to a Norton Cancer Institute location on the Norton Audubon Hospital campus every three months for new scans. She’d return three days later to get the results of the scans in person. She’d also meet with her behavioral oncologist every month.

When Dr. Driscoll proposed switching to virtual visits because of COVID-19, Misty was intrigued.

“I was like, ‘Does this mean in my pajamas with coffee?’” And he was, ‘Yeah,’ and I was like, ‘I’m in,’” Misty said.

Dr. Driscoll’s office called ahead of the first meeting to make sure she could log in successfully to connect online.

Misty, who has three children and two grandchildren, says telehealth makes her life much easier.

“Through telehealth we go over CT [computed tomography] scan results, how I’m feeling after procedures, how my medications are working — because as a cancer patient you generally have issues getting the nutrition you need and the rest you need,” Misty said. “They help you come up with a plan and how to work through it.”

If the scans showed something serious, Misty noted, she and Dr. Driscoll would meet in person.

‘It’s been a godsend’

Misty said she keeps in touch with her providers using MyNortonChart.

“They email me back within the same day, or I get a phone call, or their assistant emails me or calls me,” Misty said.

Misty still needs to get iron infusions and her monthly shot of lanreotide to lower the body’s hormone production.

“Everything else, med changes, prescription refills, mental health checks, all that kind of stuff we can do virtually,” Misty said. “It’s been a godsend. I would encourage people to give this a try.”

The post Sure, telehealth is safer, but for one patient it’s just so convenient appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

The post 5 steps to get ready for your online medical appointment appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

For Christina M. Breit, M.D., the waiting room at her St. Matthews primary care practice isn’t used much. Patients check in from their cars and go directly to an exam room.

Ryan J. Krupp, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Norton Orthopedic Institute, reviews magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with patients and conducts initial assessments about their condition by phone or video. Many of his and other providers’ patients are using telehealth for guidance in their postoperative rehabilitation.

“We’ve done away with the lobby, so there’s pretty much no intermingling between patients anymore. They’re brought directly up, checked in extremely quickly if they weren’t able to do it successfully in their car, then immediately shown to an exam room,” said Dr. Breit, an internal medicine physician with Norton Community Medical Associates – Mallard Creek. “If there are any ancillary labs or diagnostics, most of those are getting done in the same room where the visit took place.”

Related: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have revised policies that affect labor and delivery for pregnant patients, including treatment protocols for inpatient infants.

Related: Skipping waiting rooms, follow-ups by video call: Medical care resumes with safeguards

The way medical care is delivered as services resume during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed to protect patients and caregivers. Some of the changes will last beyond the crisis as patients become more comfortable with video visits and other innovations.

Related: Phased health care resumption: Questions and answers about office visits

Related: 2 ways to volunteer to donate plasma for experimental COVID-19 treatment

In the past month, use of the Norton Telehealth platform has jumped, with greater patient acceptance and the expansion of types of visits available.

Telehealth is being used particularly often by neurology patients and behavioral health care.

Urgent and emergency care has continued at Norton Healthcare throughout the crisis.

Other services are reopening in a phased process:

• Phase 1: Started April 27 and allowed office visits and diagnostic procedures with social distancing and other protections in place.
• Phase 2: Outpatient surgeries resumed May 6 for patients not expected to need more than 23 hours of observation.
• Phase 3: Starting May 13, Norton Healthcare will be able to perform half the number of inpatient procedures as before the coronavirus protections took place, if cases remain on a downward trend.
• Full services can resume May 27 if personal protective equipment supplies and bed availability permit.

The post Skipping waiting rooms, follow-ups by video call: Medical care resumes with safeguards appeared first on Norton Healthcare.

First, be sure to create a MyNortonChart account at NortonHealthcare.com/MyNortonChart, and download the MyChart app on your mobile device. If you are attempting to access an appointment for a dependent, be sure to set up proxy access within your MyNortonChart account at least 1-2 business days ahead of your appointment.

To ensure a smooth connection, complete the following tasks well in advance of your appointment:

From a computer

• Make sure you have a webcam. It can be a webcam that’s built into a computer or a separate USB webcam.
• Make sure you’re connecting with Internet Explorer 11 or newer.
• Make sure you’ve installed Adobe Flash Player with the most recent updates.
• Telehealth appointments will not function on Apple MAC or Samsung devices. If you are unable to connect using one device, use another if available.

From a mobile device (smartphone or tablet)

• Download the MyChart app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Select Norton Healthcare/Norton Children’s from the list.
• You must be within the MyChart app on a smartphone or tablet, not on your web browser.
• Make sure your mobile device settings allow the MyChart app to access the microphone and camera for sound and video.

For the best connection, close your other applications. If you still have difficult connecting, we recommend switching from Wi-Fi to Data for better quality. Telehealth appointments will not function on Samsung phones. If you are unable to connect using one device, use another if available.

Related: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have revised policies that affect labor and delivery for pregnant patients, including treatment protocols for inpatient infants.

Related: Skipping waiting rooms, follow-ups by video call: Medical care resumes with safeguards

After you’ve done these things, you should test that everything is working. Complete this test at least 10 minutes before your appointment start time.

1. Log in to the MyChart app on your mobile device or your MyNortonChart account on your computer using your MyNortonChart username and password.
2. Select Appointments, then select your upcoming appointment to test your connection and complete eCheck-in. If the visit is for your dependent, be sure that you have proxy access and select their profile before selecting Appointments.
3. When you are ready, select Begin Visit up to 10 minutes prior to your visit time to connect with your provider. The provider will join the visit after you begin. Do not be alarmed if you wait a few moments for your provider to connect. The provider will call you if you are unable to join the visit. For visual instructions and more click here.

What are the technical requirements or equipment needs for a telehealth appointment?

A telehealth appointment requires a computer with a webcam or a mobile device with the MyChart app.

Related: Phased health care resumption: Questions and answers about office visits

Related: 2 ways to volunteer to donate plasma for experimental COVID-19 treatment

Where can I go for additional support?

If you are having technical issues and are unable to connect at the appointed time, you will receive a phone call from your provider. Scheduling questions may be directed to your provider’s office. For more information about MyNortonChart, click here.

The post What hardware and software do I need for a telehealth appointment with my Norton Healthcare provider? appeared first on Norton Healthcare.