Coronavirus Pandemic: Emergency Doctors In Colorado Conducting Virtual Visits In The Hospital

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- The coronavirus pandemic has turned many health care workers into patients. Their job puts them at increased risk of being infected.

Now, emergency physicians at Swedish Medical Center can care for a person with COVID-19 without entering the hospital room.

There are 48 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Colorado as of Thursday afternoon.

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"Distance is key and distance equals safety," said emergency physician Dr. Mark Kozlowski.

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, Kozlowski is trying to protect providers. Thousands of health workers in China have been sickened by the virus. Some have died.

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"We really need to keep the healthcare workers safe," Kozlowski told CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh.

So CarePoint Health, the physician group that staffs the ER's at Swedish and other Denver area HealthONE hospitals, has dialed in on a new type of telemedicine.

"Now, we're using telemedicine to go from inside the hospital into a patient's room," explained Kozlowski, Chief Operating Officer of CarePoint Health.

Patients download an app, called Zoom, on their smartphone. They'll get a text message to join a video meeting. It's the doctor on a secure, encrypted connection.

You might call it "physician FaceTime." The idea is to lessen the doctor's risk of infection or quarantine and conserve personal protective equipment needed to enter a room.

It's underway at Swedish, however, it may not work for people uncomfortable with technology.

"Certainly it may not work for my mom," Kozlowski said.

CarePoint plans to have other HealthONE hospitals on the line shortly. Right now, it's an option for doctors and physician assistants. Kozlowski says the next step is nurses.

Additional Information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:

• Practice good hygiene. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. In the absence of soap and water, use hand-sanitizer; use your elbow or sleeve to cover coughs and sneezes
• Stay home if you're sick; keep your children home if they are sick. The illness can last for many days so make preparations now to work from home if possible.
• We advise Coloradans to always be prepared for an emergency-- like a large snowstorm-- and have a plan for your family. Make sure to have 72 hours of key supplies on hand like medications, infant formula, diapers, pet food, etc. FEMA guidance for pre-pandemic COVID-19 preparedness is available on Ready.gov.
• Stay informed with reliable, up-to-date information. People who have general questions about coronavirus disease 2019, can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email COHELP@RMPDC.org, for answers in English and Spanish (Español), Mandarin (普通话), and more.