LGBTQ+ Health Community

The COVID 29 pandemic has revealed unsettling implementation of chronic care model, that requires a transition to conventional methods to digital care through telemedicine , however this remains a challenge in LMICs with limited resources and calls of department of health and other key stakeholders to sustain the innovative digital care  initiated during COVID 19 hard lock down period for continuity of care in home and community environment for people with chronic illnesses such as NCDs and people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment. In addition, key populations and vulnerable groups need more psychosocial support  as new normal to maximise retention in care.Moreover the health system requires to upscale structural systems to enhance access and deal with health disparities 

------------------------------
Sheillah Mboweni, Dr (PhD), MA cut, BA Hons, BA Cur, RN
Senior lecturer
Pretoria - Gauteng
South Africa
------------------------------

Thank you for sharing these insights. On the one hand, telehealth is promising to provide care for those who are unable to get to or access the type of health care they want. On the other hand, it highlights to disparities that it creates for people who do not have access to the internet or are internet-savvy. Additional concerns are the state laws in the U.S. that prohibit trans-affirming care for youth. Is a provider in a state that is supportive of trans-affirming care at risk for litigation if their patient is from another state that prohibits trans-affirming care and accessing care via telehealth? 

------------------------------
Erik McIntosh, DNP, RN
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Chicago, IL
U.S.A
------------------------------

While, as with most things, there are advantages and disadvantages to digital care delivery, it is a false dichotomy to conceive of contemporary health care as either/or - it is, optimally, both traditional in person and digital delivery channels. My hunch is that as nurses we see ourselves as "high touch" and may risk dismissing the advantages of digital care where they do exist.  Perhaps biased by my years of experience in health informatics, I see an opportunity for nurses to research and document those applications of digital care delivery and/or hybrid models which meet the triple aim of improving care quality, access and cost as well as impact on work life for nurses.

------------------------------
James Halloran MSN RN CNS FAAN
San Antonio TX
United StatesMSN RN CNS FAAN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Thu April 13,2023 09:03 PM
From: Erik McIntosh
Subject: Leveraging access to chronic care and treatment post COVID 19 pandemic

Thank you for sharing these insights. On the one hand, telehealth is promising to provide care for those who are unable to get to or access the type of health care they want. On the other hand, it highlights to disparities that it creates for people who do not have access to the internet or are internet-savvy. Additional concerns are the state laws in the U.S. that prohibit trans-affirming care for youth. Is a provider in a state that is supportive of trans-affirming care at risk for litigation if their patient is from another state that prohibits trans-affirming care and accessing care via telehealth? 

------------------------------
Erik McIntosh, DNP, RN
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Chicago, IL
U.S.A
------------------------------