When the pandemic hit, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte quickly launched video and telephone appointments (telehealth) in a matter of weeks to continue providing the health care patients needed.
By leveraging technology, providers can meet patients where they are, whether accessing health care from remote rural regions, suburbs, or large cities. But providing care by video and phone is only permitted by community clinics, like Planned Parenthood, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continuing to provide telehealth care post-pandemic is our #1 priority.
Together, with our partners at the California Medical Association, Essential Access Health, California Health Advocates, and the California Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, we sponsored AB 32 to continue to expand patient choice, reach patients who have a hard time traveling to a health center, and allow people to access health care where they feel most safe and comfortable. This is core to Planned Parenthood’s mission.
From PPMM Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Laura Dalton:
"I provide comprehensive family medicine to multi-generational families, I have newborns with great-great-grandparents in their 90s. My patients are disproportionately affected by diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
"Very early on in the pandemic, before we moved to telehealth, I remember sitting in an exam room, patient after patient and feeling the burning behind my eyes as I held back tears – knowing that it was these patients, my patients, who were most at risk for a fatal outcome from COVID-19. I knew we had to do everything possible to keep them safe.
"Now when I see them using telehealth, I breathe with relief knowing that as their primary care provider, I am doing what I have always promised, to cause no harm. We have proven that we can provide high-quality and effective care for our patients using telehealth. And we are finally starting to address the disparities they face by offering them this choice.
"Going back to health center visits when they are not indicated or requested by the patient is harmful, and I cannot imagine a system that would tell me, as a primary care provider, that I must do something that I do not think is in the best interest of my patients’ lives.
"My job and my commitment is to heal and protect from preventable disease. Payment parity should exist to allow me to continue this critical work and maintain access to essential services."
Have you benefitted from a phone or video appointment? Share your story with us!
PPMM patients have telehealth stories, too! Here is what they’re saying.
“Great experience. Much easier, convenient and safe with over the phone consult and curbside pick up”
“First ever over the phone doctor visit very happy that the person I talked to about my care and about my condition was very thoughtful sympathetic and overall I am very glad to be receiving service from you guys thank you.”
“This is great, I just needed a refill on my BC and I'm glad I didn't have to go into the office for it. Regardless of pandemic, this should be an option in the future.”
We agree!
Passing AB 32 will provide more people, in more places, the care they need today and tomorrow, no matter what.
Take Action:
Is easier access to health care important to you?
- Join us for our Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California Capitol Week and meet with your legislators. Sign up here.
- Take action online: Share why you support telehealth using hashtags #AccessTelehealth #YesOnAB32 #Thankful4Telehealth.
- Be sure to tag your legislators, and
- Thank @AssemblymemberCeciliaAguiarCurry for standing with us by authoring AB 32.
Don’t know your CA state legislators?
- You can find your legislators here.
Tags: legislation, telehealth