Yale New Haven Health recently marked its 1 millionth telehealth visit. Physicians such as Jill Banatoski, MD, Internal Medicine, Northeast Medical Group, have used telehealth to connect with patients during COVID-19 and beyond.
Yale New Haven Health is celebrating the recent milestone of conducting its 1 millionth telehealth visit, and the success of a tool that brings patients and providers together when circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic discourage in-person visits.
“This achievement is a testament to our patients,” said Nikki DeLucia, director, Ambulatory Telehealth, YNHHS. “They want it and they see the value of it.”
Many patients came to rely on telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before March 2020, YNHHS was conducting about 300 telehealth visits a year. That number jumped to nearly 5,000 visits a day during the peak of the pandemic, when many in-person services were suspended. Even with regular services restored, current daily telehealth visits average between 1,500 and 2,000.
“I think this shows that telehealth is here to stay,” said Jennifer Strang, program manager, Telehealth, YNHHS. “Our providers have really embraced it. Just like our patients, they see the value in delivering quality care from anywhere. It’s a level of flexibility we haven’t had before.”
