Ideas. Stories. Community.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

COVID-19 Calls for Telehealth: Southwest Health System Transitions to New Primary Care Method

Courtesy of Southwest Health System
Drive-up testing for flu and COVID-19 opened at Southwest Health System last week. This posed courtesy photo was provided to protect patient privacy.

In this week’s coronavirus update with Southwest Health System staff, KSJD speaks with Kerri White-Singleton, chief operating officer for the Southwest Medical Group, about the pivot to telehealth. 

White-Singleton says it’s part of how SHS is encouraging social distancing in health care, like its recently opened drive-up flu and COVID-19 testing site.

Note: Southwest Health System is an underwriter of KSJD.

“We’re doing everything we can to limit the exposure that people could or could not have to COVID,” White-Singleton said.

This allows patients to continue having their regular primary care appointments with providers via a phone call. Physicians can continue to call in prescriptions and lab orders, White-Singleton said, and will discuss what you’d expect in a typical appointment.

Some appointments will still need to be done in-person, like follow-ups for those expecting a baby. But even some of those in-person visits can be done from your car.

Hear White-Singleton’s full interview with KSJD below.