Reena Mehra, MD, MS: Expediting Telemedicine During COVID-19

“Given the acceleration to the use of telemedicine, I certainly think this will be a large part of how we will be caring for our patients going forward.”

As hospitals, clinics, and private practices continue to limit their person-to-person interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the accelerated use and growth of telemedicine has been a beneficial consequence. In some parts of the country, governmental rules and restrictions on travel have forced the need for telemedicine to take a larger role.

Reena Mehra, MD, MS, director, Sleep Disorders Research Program, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, sees the potential of virtual visits and diagnosing patients with sleep apnea through telemedicine. For years, Cleveland Clinic has tried to remain at the forefront of pushing the envelope on accelerating the process of telemedicine, and so Mehra and her colleagues have plenty of experience.

In an interview with NeurologyLive, Mehra detailed specific measures that she has taken to adjust her practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how this change in how care can be delivered has expedited the utilization of telemedicine in sleep medicine.