Telehealth is vital to the future of Alaska health care

Back in the early months of this year, no one in their wildest dreams could have imagined the current COVID-19 reality in which we currently live. The global, national, and local impacts of this invisible predator affect every aspect of our modern lives, and are particularly acute when it comes to how we administer and receive health care.

While Alaska ranks favorably compared to other states in many COVID-19-related statistical categories, we have not managed to maintain a flattened curve, but rather, are recently seeing a spike in positive cases statewide. This is of notable concern when we think about Alaska’s distant rural areas and villages.

This has not gone unnoticed on the federal level; in fact, just this past week, Secretary Alex Azar of the U.S. Department of Health and Social Services came to visit and hear firsthand about the challenges rural Alaska faces as we combat the spread of COVID-19. Representatives from the Anchorage Primary Care Center, run by the Southcentral Foundation; Alaska Native Medical Center, part of the Alaska Tribal Health Consortium; and Cook Inlet Tribal Council all shared with him their success and challenges in serving rural and Native populations under the threat of COVID-19.

Health care providers cite a powerful tool in the fight against the virus: the increased use of telehealth, especially with patients living in Alaska’s outlying areas. Of course, telehealth is not a new concept here. Alaska health care providers have been utilizing it for years, now more than ever, as the novel coronavirus further complicates even a simple, in-person medical visit.

Someone not familiar with Alaska’s geography cannot begin to imagine almost 200 rural communities dotted across a state one-fifth the size of the Lower 48, let alone envision providing adequate health care to its citizens, in places often only reachable by boat or small aircraft. How does one get their chronic sore throat checked? How long should this fever last? Is this a broken bone or just a sprain? Why am I having these headaches? Could I have COVID-19? Without access to a health care provider, these seemingly routine health care questions can go unanswered, to the detriment of the person’s health (and others, under this pandemic) when there is not a medical provider within hundreds of miles.

Just a short few months ago, a person still needed to visit a clinic to have access to a telehealth consultation; but because of the pandemic and a necessary reduction in regulations, a person seeking medical attention can receive care from a health care provider in Anchorage (or the Lower 48) right from their own home. The provider can monitor the patient easily and respond more quickly.

That is why telehealth in rural Alaska is so vital, and the foundation for it must be supported and continued. But there is a stumbling block – the lack of broadband capacity in Alaska’s rural areas. Many are working on improving this, including the state, the federal government and the private sector; it costs money and takes time, but it’s all worth the effort because it means improved health care outcomes for our residents. And amid this pandemic, it means identifying patients with COVID-19 quickly, isolating and treating them, hopefully saving them from critical complications and/or a hospital admission. Epidemiologists are noting a higher COVID-19 hospitalization rate among Native Americans, another reason to provide swift and efficient care via telehealth to combat this trend.

Of course, a telehealth appointment is not always a substitute for an up-close and thorough in-person exam by one’s health care provider. And not all patients feel capable or comfortable with the Internet (video conference or smart phone) often needed for a successful visit. Many conditions necessitate a personal appointment; however, an initial review via a telehealth call can detect the need for further examination and a course of medical action can be initiated.

Using telehealth is proving effective for mental health needs and its use is growing. Alaska has been sorely lacking in mental health providers, and that fact is tragically noted in our elevated rates of domestic violence, child maltreatment and alcohol/substance misuse in Alaska.

Fortunately, through legislative efforts and heightened recognition of our dire mental health needs, improvements are being made. We are increasing mental health treatment via the use of telehealth. A person suffering from depression can be “seen” by a professional in the safety and comfort of their home, without needing to travel to a clinic or suffer the stigma often associated with receiving mental health care. We must work on that too, but this is one good step. Statistics show that under the cloud of the pandemic, as it hangs over our heads, more and more individuals are suffering from isolation and depression, and may need mental health services now more than ever before.

The use of telehealth has its advantages and its challenges, but its use throughout our state should be fostered and fine-tuned to the needs of our residents, especially under the threat of an unforgiving virus. I support maintaining the federal expansion of telehealth services for Alaskans and improving Alaska’s telehealth system, founded on sensible health care policy and continued development of our bandwidth capacity.

Sen. Cathy Giessel, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, is a Republican Alaska state senator representing District N, which covers parts of Anchorage and communities along Turnagain Arm.

The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.