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Patient spotlight: using telehealth to review test results

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Profile picture for Abhishek Kulkarni
Abhishek Kulkarni

Some patients may bristle at the suggestion of a doctor’s visit through a video screen, but not Sergio “Satch” Pecori. When his SIU Medicine cardiologist, Dr. Abhishek Kulkarni, suggested a televisit to review test results from a recent procedure, there was no hesitation.

Pecori looked forward to the opportunity to connect with his doctor in an efficient way. His morning video visit lasted only 10 minutes, but it was enough time to connect with his doctor and thoroughly understand his test results in a relaxed setting. Neither the brevity of the televisit or the physical distance from the clinic got in the way of a quality visit. “I felt like I was right in the room with Dr. Kulkarni and I was very satisfied with the appointment,” said Pecori.

He joins the nearly 70 percent of SIU Medicine patients that have indicated that they prefer to continue televisits in the future. “I highly recommend televisit as a convenient way to connect with your doctor.”

Top telehealth use cases

Pecori’s case is just one of the many instances where a standard visit doesn’t necessarily require an in-person visit. Many follow up visits and ongoing treatment management check-in appointments do not require the patient and physician to be in the same room. Some of these top telehealth use cases include:

  • Pre-Screenings
  • Reviewing lab results
  • Discussing medication management
  • Chronic care management
  • Pain management consultations
  • Behavioral health support
  • Specialty consultations

Especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is important to stay safe and healthy, which includes keeping your distance from others and staying home if you’re able to. This is why we encourage transitioning in-person visits into telehealth visits, if applicable, in order to keep our patients and staff as safe as possible.

SIU Medicine’s approach to telehealth

SIU Medicine's telehealth program provides access to care through virtual care strategies that bring our specialists and primary care providers to your home. With a variety of clinical specialties and subspecialties delivering care virtually, healthcare consultation from your home is now a reality for many patients and their families. SIU Medicine currently offers direct-to-patient telehealth appointments in addition to its typical telehealth appointments where patients are located at a partnering healthcare facility for their appointments. This allows patients to talk with an SIU Medicine specialist using video chat functionality.

Interested in telehealth? Need to schedule a follow up visit?

To learn more about SIU Medicine's expanded telehealth program, or to schedule a visit for yourself or a family member, call 217-545-8000 or request an appointment online.

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