S6E05 - The State of Telehealth (Zooming, Face-Timing, Texting -- Are We Loving I.T.?)

We shop, do bank transactions, study, play, and do many other things online. So why not do doctor consultations online?  U.S. healthcare has been slowly inching towards telehealth over the past couple of years, butthe arrival of the COVID pandemic pushed telemedicine to the forefront. To limit the spread of the virus, telemedicine became an excellent choice for those seeking a consultation but cannot visit the doctor's office.In this special episode with Ann Mond Johnson, CEO at ATA, and Joe Kvedar, discuss the state of telehealth with a particular focus on orthopedics. They share their insights on telemedicine's impact on both orthopedics and patients, improving the efficiency of care delivery, integrating wearables and remote monitoring in zoom and other online platforms, and more. Shawna, Ann, and Joe had plenty to talk about, so you'll definitely find this episode very interesting!Today's GuestsAnn Mond JohnsonAnn Mond Johnson is the CEO of the American Telemedicine Association. Before joining the ATA, she served as CEO of Zest Health, a technology-enabled service, for two years. She was also asked to be a Board Chair and Advisor to ConnectedHealth, a leading provider of private insurance exchanges; and as co-founder and CEO of Subimo, a pioneer in healthcare cost and quality decision support tools for consumers. Ann began her healthcare data and information career as Senior Vice President at Sachs Group (now part of IBM Watson/Truven Health). She also worked at a multi-hospital system in Minneapolis, which is now part of Allina.Joe KvedarDr. Joe Kvedar is a board-certified dermatologist and Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School.In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Kvedar is also Vice President, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare, where he is creating a new model of healthcare delivery that moves care from the hospital or doctor's office into the day-to-day lives of patients. Partners Connected Health programs are helping providers and patients better manage chronic conditions, maintain health and wellness, and improve adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes. He is the author of two books on the subject: The New Mobile Age: How Technology Will Extend the Healthspan and Optimize the Lifespan (2017) and The Internet of Healthy Things (2015).Dr. Kvedar graduated from University of Vermont, College of Medicine, and completed his residency in dermatology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Kvedar is a past President and board member of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and Past Chair of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Task Force on Telemedicine.