When patients sign up for the newest kind of therapy at the Mental Health Center of Denver, here’s what comes in their welcome packet: A biofeedback device that clips to their ear to measure pulse and blood-oxygen levels. A phone stand to prop up a smartphone during therapy sessions. And directions for downloading an app […]
telehealth
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: The public option won’t work for Colorado
When it comes to improving health care, most Coloradans want the same thing: lower costs, improved access and a higher quality of care. However, some of the one-size-fits-all proposals out of Washington – and our own state Capitol here in Colorado — would not only fail to achieve these worthy goals, but would take us […]
Posted inColoradans, COVID, Health
Coronavirus moved some substance treatment services online in Colorado — possibly permanently
Kara Bonham was already struggling with alcohol consumption, depression and anxiety when the pandemic forced her life into overdrive. She had a high-stress job as a first responder in Fort Collins. On top of that, her older sister, who also struggles with alcohol, had recently been diagnosed with end-stage liver failure. As Bonham saw it, […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, Politics and Government
“It saved us”: A recent infusion of federal funds is helping Colorado’s rural hospitals stay afloat
A recent infusion of federal funds is providing much-needed relief for rural hospitals already under financial pressure when the coronavirus crisis hit Colorado. Though hospital administrators say the emergency funds will provide immediate support, there is uncertainty around how and when the funds can be used, specifically if they can be used to make up […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: How technology is shaping the brave new world of health care in the coronavirus era
While we are fighting the battle against COVID-19 and adjusting to the new normal, technology is helping to rewrite the playbook of the health care industry. Modeling, artificial intelligence, remote monitoring and chat bots are paving the way for a better tomorrow. If you haven’t yet connected to a doctor remotely via an app, chances […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, Health, Technology
What happens to school-based health care in Colorado when schools close because of coronavirus?
The Arnold family had just gotten on top of anxiety issues disrupting the happiness of their two children, ages 10 and 7, and were “weaning” away from their beloved school-based counselors, when COVID-19 hit. For a 7-year-old nervously clinging to routine for solace, a sudden dictum that school won’t meet for the rest of the […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, News
Coronavirus panic has fueled the telehealth revolution in Colorado — and we won’t go back
Colorado patients visiting their doctors virtually through video links, phone calls or online chats are up more than 2,000% in some larger health systems during the COVID-19 crisis, easing life for consumers and promising permanent changes long after the virus is gone. Turning a short-term necessity into a long-term virtue for consumers and providers, the […]
Posted inCOVID, Health, News
Mental health care in Colorado has gone virtual thanks to coronavirus. For some patients, it’s long overdue.
Deby Williamson used to take note of her clients’ body language and the vibe that filled the room when they came to see her for mental health therapy. That’s not happening now, since she meets them via computer. Williamson, a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Colorado Springs, is one of thousands of […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Here’s where the jobs are in Colorado as unemployment surges during coronavirus’ economic meltdown
On Wednesday, the Mesa County Workforce Center job hotline shared nine new jobs, including one for a full-time engineer earning $6,322 a month. A day earlier, there were five new ones, including a part-time youth services specialist paying $22.62 an hour. There’s been a steady flow of new job listings as the shutdown to slow […]
Posted inCOVID, Health, Politics and Government
Colorado is banking on telehealth to slow coronavirus. But many rural hospitals lack necessary resources.
Colorado health officials want to use “remote” health care services, known as telehealth, as a tool to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But despite recent regulatory changes intended to make it easier for patients to seek medical advice or treatment without leaving their home, many rural hospitals and clinics lack adequate funding, […]