KMBC 9: Use of telemedicine increasing during pandemic

By Kelly Eckerman

COVID-19 precautions have forced people to change the way things are done, especially when it comes to health care. That is why the use of telemedicine is surging.

Appointments have all the elements of a traditional doctor visit, but patients and doctors are in different locations.

For weeks now, Dr. Gina Jones, of Children's Mercy Hospital, has been seeing her patients through virtual visits.

"So they don't have to come in to clinics and be exposed to other patients and families unnecessarily, and also to protect our staff," said Morgan Waller, director of telemedicine at Children's Mercy Hospital.

This is new to a lot of the families and it can take time to get comfortable. Parents might be asked to facilitate, but the doctor takes the lead.

"The provider is still doing the interpretation, You know, you as a mother, you can gently push on your child's abdomen for example and the provider can tell by looking at that child if that is causing discomfort," Waller said.

See the full story via KMBC 9

Learn more about Telemedicine at Children's Mercy