Positive Response of Telehealth as Additional Option for Care in MS: Marisa McGinley, DO
The staff neurologist from the Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research at the Cleveland Clinic discussed how patients with multiple sclerosis are more open to using telehealth for accessing their healthcare providers at the 2023 ACTRIMS Forum. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]
WATCH TIME: 4 minutes
"It's interesting is that there are some patients who have been accessing MS care for 20 years and have a preconceived idea of how their care should be delivered. Some patients, I think, strongly, want to stay in that method. But I will say that, when you discuss telehealth it's an additional way that you can access your health care providers.”
Tailoring care delivery is crucial to improve healthcare outcomes and meet patients’ individual needs. In recent years, advanced technology with telehealth has provided patients with a more accessible approach to care for not only improving their outcomes but also leading to overall patient satisfaction. Several in the multiple sclerosis (MS) field have discussed how an earlier diagnosis can help patients understand the potential benefits of telehealth in long-term care. In addition, clinicians being transparent with their patients about their care options such as telehealth can help build trust and improve patient engagement.
In an interview with NeurologyLive®, Marisa McGinley, DO, an attendee from the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum held February 23-25, 2023, in San Diego, California, expressed her enthusiasm with the potential benefits of telehealth in clinical practice for both patients and clinicians. She noted that as technology continues to advance, it will be important for providers to stay up-to-date and leverage these tools to provide the best possible care for their patients.
McGinley sat down at the forum to explain her thoughts on the benefits of telehealth and telemedicine early on in a diagnosis and its impact on long-term care. McGinley, staff neurologist, Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic, also shared her reactions to the forum’s program, including some general takeaways and what has excited her the most.
