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Clinicians: telehealth expanded access for rural, elderly and behavioral‑health patients
Summary
Clinicians from primary care, reproductive health and behavioral health described telehealth's practical benefits—shorter access times, safer follow‑ups, family inclusion, and continuity of care—while noting limits tied to broadband and intake policies for new patients under Medi‑Cal.
Dr. Stefan Newman, a family practitioner with decades of rural experience, told the committee telehealth "has been a wonderful, wonderful, improvement" for seniors, patients with mobility issues and for transitional care visits after hospitalization. He said clinicians use audio‑only frequently for older or Medicare patients and rely on patient‑reported vitals and home devices to inform clinical decisions.
Jamie Gray, a clinical director at Shasta Community Health Center, said telehealth "was not until January 2022 that we began to see our telehealth encounters become smaller than our in person encounter count," and described patients who could not afford travel being able to stay in care because of virtual appointments. Providers emphasized the promise of devices, community digital navigators, and targeted outreach to maintain quality and equity.
