Howard Fillit, MD: The Positives of Telemedicine Adoption for Geriatric Patients
The founding executive director and chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation spoke to the way the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the use of telemedicine for the elderly with conditions like Alzheimer and dementia.
“Telehealth has been percolating along for decades now, but this has really just accelerated the adoption of it in medical practice, but in a really good way. I think it’s going to change the future of how we practice medicine.”
One of the oft-mentioned silver linings that medical professionals have been able to take away from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been the rapid adoption and development of telemedicine and telehealth models of care. For geriatricians and their patients, particularly, this has, in part, proved to be a push in a positive direction.
For Howard Fillit, MD, founding executive director, and chief science officer, Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, this has been a long time coming. In an interview with NeurologyLive, Fillit offered his insight on the long-lasting impact that widespread use of telemedicine will have on the care of geriatric patients with conditions such as Alzheimer and related dementias.
Fillit detailed his experience thus far adjusting to the use of telemedicine platforms and how incorporating virtual visits into the regular care of these patients can offer them a safe way to connect with their providers, particularly those who have trouble moving or are at-risk for falls. Additionally, it can offer physicians a way to connect with their patients’ caregivers to offer advice or get updates on patients.
