Community Health Programs Shifts from Exam Room Care to Telehealth, Parking Lot Tents, Mobile Health and Home Visits

Apr 1, 2020 | News

Community Health Programs, now using telehealth, drive-thru care and home visits, has transformed its health care operations throughout Berkshire County to continue caring for patients while minimizing COVID-19 virus exposure among staff and patients.

Since primary practices are often the first call for patients who may be ill with COVID-19; primary care doctors and nurse practitioners are screening, educating and directing patients on their next steps. Meanwhile, there’s an ongoing need for routine health care in the county, as patients seek appointments for the common flu; chronic health conditions, childhood vaccinations, prenatal and newborn care, or other ailments requiring medical attention.

To maintain primary care access at its 10 practice locations, CHP is:

  • Rotating its staff rotating between on-site care and remote work every two weeks, to reduce potential staff exposure to COVID-19.
  • Conducting thousands of visits via video or phone call: 2,000 telehealth visits have taken place since March 12.
  • Seeing patients in tents in parking lots at practice locations to reduce use of interior exam rooms by patients with respiratory symptoms.
  • Making home visits to certain patients when appropriate and safe.
  • Deployed its two mobile health units to locations where they are most needed.

“We are aggressively working to avoid spreading COVID-19 while we continue providing routine care,” said Jennifer Wilkinson, CHP’s chief operating officer. “We have extra precautionary measures in place for any patients we see in person, and many of our staff are working remotely. This approach thus far, has been successful.”

Under normal circumstances, CHP’s countywide practices see approximately 2,200 patients per week; CHP counts more than 30,000 patients in its health care network and employs 240 staff and clinicians.

CHP’s Family Services staff is working remotely to help a growing number of families impacted by COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 emergency has impacted how we all live and work, but it’s also essential that we maintain primary care operations in the Berkshires, along with our women’s healthcare and emergency dental services,” said Lia Spiliotes, CHP’s CEO. “We have transitioned with remarkable agility and teamwork in the last several weeks. It’s been a tremendous achievement–and we will keep it going as long as necessary.”

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