When I started my training as an emergency room physician, my mind revolved around answering one fundamental question: What does this patient have? Every interaction was a diagnostic puzzle, an attempt to fit a patient's symptoms together into a cohesive picture.
As the pandemic took off, my hospital began expanding virtual urgent care. I knew that these video visits would be easier for sick patients who didn't want to leave the house, and further the public health goal of reducing people's exposure to infectious diseases.
Through the screen, I found something unexpected: the chance for technology to offer a different - and sometimes deeper - interaction with patients. At first, I balked at telehealth shifts.
Tests and X-rays weren't readily available for video visits and patients typically called in without any vital sign measurements such as blood pressure or oxygen level. It seemed impossible to care for someone without even this most basic information.
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