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As COVID-19 variants continue to disrupt healthcare, health systems are using the sophisticated clinical collaboration and telehealth features of Backline to facilitate the screening and treatment of patients and reduce the risk of spreading the virus or exposing high-risk groups.
By using the Backline clinical communication platform, health systems are able to streamline infectious disease workflows and decrease the number of patients with non-life-threatening COVID-19 symptoms coming to healthcare facilities.
Virtual rooms streamline COVID-19 collaboration
A leading palliative care organization used Backline to configure a virtual team room for “COVID Protocol for Employees”. They post their COVID-19 protocols and policies, and clinicians enter their temperatures daily. If team members experience symptoms, they post these as well. In addition, information on patients that have developed COVID-19 is shared.
Increasingly, the care team is posting patient admission documents in their virtual rooms, so that they have access to more information without going into the EHR.
Integrated telehealth makes remote care easier
As a long-time user of Backline, Hancock Health is employing Backline’ baked-in telehealth capabilities to see patients virtually via video visits, thus eliminating the risk of exposure. As a result, patients who are potential carriers or are vulnerable remain at home while still being able to get the help they need. Patients receive top-quality care, and Hancock Health clinicians, staff and other patients are insulated from any unnecessary exposure. This also allows Hancock to effectively allocate personal protective equipment that is subject to high demand.
“The number of COVID-19 cases continues to spike with every variant. Our healthcare system is not equipped to handle a pandemic of this magnitude. The demand is over-taxing our healthcare facilities, professionals and supplies,” said Dave Wortman, co-founder of Backline. “Hancock very proactively began to think outside the box to develop the safest, most effective approach to dealing with this virus. By utilizing Backline, Hancock has insulated their team from unnecessary exposure and are also doing their part to help slow the spread of this disease. The best-case scenario is to allow people who are high-risk or have symptoms of the coronavirus to stay in their homes when possible, while having a physician oversee their care.”
Automated infection alerts in seconds
In another health system, Backline is central to handling the unprecedented numbers of patients needing to be seen and screened for COVID-19. Leveraging the system-wide collaboration capabilities of Backline and its integration into the hospital’s EHR, an automated infectious disease notification process was deployed in less than 24 hours. Once a patient is determined to be displaying multiple risk factors, the infection prevention team at the correct hospital or clinic is automatically alerted in real time.
Because the Backline system is populated with the infected patient’s data, a nurse triage team can further assess and determine whether an infection prevention specialist is needed. This entire automated process happens in seconds, so patients can be quarantined more quickly, medical personnel can be notified to wear full PPE before interacting with the patient, the burden on the infection prevention team is lessened, and infectious prevention physician capacity is increased.
Backline co-founder Wortman added, “We are proud that our platform is making a real, life-changing difference. The speed at which health systems have adapted innovative technology to provide healthcare in the midst of an ongoing pandemic is truly amazing.”
About Backline
Designed by actual clinicians, Backline is a healthcare-specific platform that helps manage the complexity and urgency of today’s clinical environment. In addition to providing secure communications and telehealth, we deliver a virtual workspace that brings together providers to collaborate across units and disciplines. For health systems, Backline replaces multiple point solutions with a single platform that elevates their efficiency, while increasing clinician and patient satisfaction.
