Axis Health System has increased access to phone- and video-based appointments to meet patients’ health care needs.
Since mid-March, Axis has offered the majority of its services via telehealth. This includes: counseling, psychiatry, substance-use treatment and access to 24/7 crisis services by phone or video. Recently, 25 therapy groups shifted from in-person to virtual meetings.
“We have a lot of experience with telepsychiatry and have also had a lot of positive outcomes over the years. We are very proficient at this model of care,” said Axis Chief Behavioral Health Officer Stacie Russell.
Axis also plans to offer primary care through telehealth. Although not every situation is appropriate for telehealth, it creates a way to see patients, connect with them and hear concerns.
Benefits of telehealth include remote access to providers with flexible appointments, allowing patients to be in the comfort of their own homes and no transportation barriers.
Axis CEO Shelly Burke said COVID-19 required a quick ramp-up of new technology to provide access to care during the pandemic.
“The situation really helped us expedite our telehealth strategy and begin to adapt the way we are delivering health care,” she said. “We know that there will be a ‘new normal’ post-pandemic, and telehealth will be part of that for our patients. COVID-19 has been the impetus to modernize and effectively deliver care, and it will benefit our communities in the long term.”
Axis recommends five tips to patients for telehealth appointments:
Make sure to have a good internet or data connection before the appointment. Test the link before an appointment. Download the necessary video-conferencing app, such as Zoom or Lifesize and test the microphone and speaker.Sit facing a light, such as a window or a lamp, instead of having light from behind.Test the camera ahead of time. Set phones at eye level so the head and shoulders can be seen.Find a quiet place for the video call. If available, use headphones in order to hear clearly and filter out distractions.All Axis Health System clinics are open in Cortez, Durango and Pagosa Springs for primary care and behavioral health. Axis accepts most insurance, Medicare and Medicaid and offers a sliding fee for those who qualify.
To make an appointment, visit www.axishealthsystem.org. People in crisis should call the 24/7 Axis Care Hotline at 247-5245.
