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Triad Hospital Executives Reflect On Pandemic And Prepare For The Fall

WFDD screen capture during North Carolina Healthcare Association's virtual town hall on September 22, 2020.

Local hospital administrators are gearing up to fight both COVID-19 and the flu this fall, and are emphasizing the importance of telehealth. They made their comments at a virtual town hall to discuss the state of healthcare in the Triad.  

The forum was hosted by the North Carolina Healthcare Association and featured senior executives from Wake Forest Baptist Health, Cone Health, Northern Regional Hospital, and Novant Health.

One common theme was telemedicine and the role it's played during the pandemic. Chief Operating Officer for Novant Health, Jeff Lindsay, says they've significantly increased their ability to provide virtual care.

“The whole of 2019, we had around 250 virtual visits. Over the summer we were doing as many as 15,000 encounters per day," he says. "So we've seen a real explosion in accessibility.”

Wake Forest Baptist CEO, Dr. Julie Freischlag, says telehealth is here to stay and it's becoming a part of education protocol for medical students.

The leaders emphasized the need to remain vigilant as flu season approaches, especially since symptoms can be indistinguishable from those associated with COVID-19. They encouraged community members to get vaccinated.

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

Bethany is WFDD's editorial director. She joined the staff in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming editorial director, Bethany was assistant news Director, a reporter and associate producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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