The demand for telehealth is only going to increase with the federal government recently announcing an expansion of Medicare telehealth services. 

<p>
  As government officials, providers, health plans and employers are
  recommending telehealth as the first choice to support patient care during
  this pandemic surge, the push is now on how to identify medical professionals
  who can provide assistance for populations that are in dire need. Before the
  pandemic, only 1 in 10 patients in the U.S. used telehealth, according to a
  <a
    href="https://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/2019185_telehealth_usage_and_awareness.pdf"
    >J.D. Power survey</a
  >. Now, health systems and private telehealth companies are seeing a dramatic
  increase in the use of telehealth.
</p>

<h2>The COVID Telehealth Demand.</h2>

<p>
  The demand for telehealth is only going to increase with the federal
  government recently announcing an expansion of Medicare telehealth services.
  The Cleveland Clinic, along with other health systems, is responding by
  increasing hiring, and companies such as PlushCare has
  <a
    href="https://qz.com/1821549/telemedicine-faces-unprecedented-demand-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus/"
    >increased hiring of doctors</a
  >
  by 50% to 100%.
  <a
    href="https://qz.com/1821549/telemedicine-faces-unprecedented-demand-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus/"
    >NYU Langone</a
  >
  has 170 doctors who attend to telemedicine patients today, up from 35 two
  weeks ago.
</p>

<p>
  Meanwhile, nearly 20 states have enacted emergency regulations to increase the
  use of telehealth to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. This has many health
  systems and private telemedicine companies scrambling to meet the demand and
  hiring more physicians and other healthcare professionals. As is often the
  case with medical professionals, the supply chain is a challenge. During a
  crisis of this magnitude &ndash; the demand literally becomes a matter of life
  or death.
</p>

<h2>How Locums Can Meet the Need.</h2>

<p>
  Locums providers are practiced in filling critical needs on short notice. Here
  are four reasons Locums are the answer for key telehealth offerings for your
  facility:
</p>

<ol>
  <li>
    <b>They are an invaluable resource for telemedicine.</b> There are many
    skilled providers who are able and willing to join the workforce but are
    considered high-risk for COVID because they are older or immune-compromised.
    These professionals can be a significant asset to your facility without
    being in the field during this time.
  </li>
  <li>
    <b>They are adept at assimilation.</b> Locums providers are accustomed to
    adapting to new environments and working alongside existing staff without
    being disruptive. Their adaptability can extent to telemedicine, as they are
    used to learning new systems.
  </li>
  <li>
    <b>Flexible scheduling.</b> Locums providers already have a cadence of
    scheduling that allows them to adjust to the telehealth schedule well. They
    expect to have atypical shifts and are open to malleability.
  </li>
  <li>
    <b>They are experienced problem solvers.</b> When there&rsquo;s a need for
    Locums tenens, there is almost always a critical issue that needs to be
    addressed. Locums know how to come in, imbue a sense of calm, identify
    processes, and take over to keep patient care seamless and effective.
  </li>
</ol>

<h2>We&rsquo;re here to support our healthcare heroes as they care for all.</h2>

<p>
  If your facility is looking to implement telehealth services, or expand your
  telehealth offering, we are here to help.
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/request-coverage">Contact us</a>
  today.
</p>

<p>
  If you are a Locums professional and would like to provide telehealth support,
  we have urgent assignments available today.
  <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/contact-us">Contact us</a> for
  immediate consideration.
</p>


Telehealth and Locums: A Critical Option for COVID-19 Support