How Telehealth Can Help You: A Message from the Emory Transplant Center

If you haven’t used telehealth yet, what’s stopping you? It’s a convenient, easy way to receive the high-quality care you have come to expect from Emory Transplant Center – from the safety and comfort of home.

Through a service called Emory Connected Care, patients are able to consult with Emory Healthcare providers through the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as a computer, tablet or smartphone, all in the comfort of their own home.

Historically, Emory was an early adopter and leader in the telehealth field, beginning with the eICU program established in 2014 and a tele-nephrology program that began in 2017. As of late, our telehealth efforts have increased dramatically due to COVID-19.

Recent regulatory changes at the federal and state levels in response to COVID-19 have removed barriers that have prevented clinicians from performing telehealth visits in the past. Now clinicians can see and treat patients in their homes, by using HIPAA-compliant audio/video technology such as Zoom or FaceTime, and prescribe medications remotely.

Telehealth at Emory Transplant Center

We began offering virtual visits through telehealth on March 15 – just four days after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. Today, all of Emory’s organ transplant programs provide virtual visits. In fact, since March, our providers have conducted more than 4,500 telehealth visits, compared to about 1,500 in-person visits. Patients like telehealth so much that we are planning to keep it as an option even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

“Telemedicine has provided the platform we need to safely continue managing our transplant patients while keeping access open for new patients seeking transplant evaluation,” says Ravi Vora, MD, a liver transplant hepatologist. “The positive feedback from both providers and patients has created a momentum to ensure telemedicine continues to be a part of our care delivery model moving forward.”

Your Telehealth Appointment at Emory Transplant Center

We hope you’ll consider using telehealth, whether you are waiting for a new organ, recovering from transplant surgery or preparing to be a living organ donor. While telehealth isn’t an option for every patient and every appointment, your care team will let you know when an upcoming visit can happen using telemedicine. The team will base its decision on several factors, including:

• Whether you are a new or current patient
• How urgent your need is
• The type of concern you have
• The availability between you and your provider

Emory Transplant Center offers telehealth through a program called Emory Connected Care, a more secure version of Zoom’s video conferencing products. It is easy to use, safe, secure and HIPAA compliant. When you have a telehealth visit, you will need a cell phone, personal computer or tablet that has a camera feature. Our team can help you get everything set up and answer any questions you have.

Learn how to prepare for an Emory Connected Care telehealth appointment.

“Telemedicine allows the Emory Transplant Center team to seamlessly care for patients by bringing appointments directly to their computers, tablets and smartphones,” says Sudha Tata, MD, a kidney transplant nephrologist. “It’s just one more way we are taking extraordinary steps to maintain the top standards of care for patients who depend on us.”

For additional information about telehealth services, visit our Emory Connected Care page. As always, if you have any questions or would like more information about the Emory Transplant Center, please call 855-366-7989.