By Cathy Whitt
Telemedicine became a lifeline for many patients during COVID. And while it continues to be a viable alternative for patients to stay in touch face to face with their healthcare professionals, I have personally seen how telemedicine for wellness topics produces amazing results.
Cathy Whitt
When I began teaching wellness classes, including yoga, diabetes prevention and cooking classes, among others, for Holy Cross Health and then yoga for students in the Broward County School system partnering with BECON TV, they were held in person. Then like everything else, as a result of the pandemic, we went virtual. While we lost that in-person contact, we were able to expand our reach globally.
Of course that meant our viewers had to be committed to our Zoom classes. Many of them had to learn what Zoom was and how it works. But they soon discovered it was user-friendly, and they looked forward to the “movement” in the classes and many felt it was a stress reliever, particularly during such an unprecedented time.
What did we learn about telemedicine wellness style?
Convenience: Online wellness classes means that you don’t need to join a gym or travel somewhere other than to a room in your home or a safe area outdoors where you can, at the touch of a keyboard, take a yoga class or any other health-related class.
Financial benefits: Online classes saves you time and money on gas and gym fees.
Inspires creativity: We have found innovative ways to make the classes fun. For example for one of our diabetes prevention classes for adults, we hosted a themed tea party. For another yoga class for kids, we partnered with a company to incorporate puppeteers into the class.
They can be for all age groups: One of the lessons we learned throughout Covid is that we all need to practice mindfulness and mediation. Mid-day yoga and mindful classes are popular for those working from home sitting at the computer all day who need just want this break can provide. Or it can be a respite for those older adults that are homebound.
It works: There are many family and friends that for whatever reason may not be able to physically leave their home to participate. I had an 85-year-old woman in my yoga class who lived in Maryland and practiced chair yoga. She told me that sometimes I was the only person she saw that week. You don’t realize that so many older adults are confined to their home. They get lonely and it affects their mental health. You become friendly with your class and that warms my heart. Early on, I helped one 85-year-old woman in our yoga class find a location near her to get her vaccine.
Worldwide access: Perhaps the best story I can share is with a very special young man in Orlando. Sam is a Special Olympian, competing in cycling. I connected with Sam and his mom during our yoga classes, and we would talk about his dream to compete at the state and national level. I am proud to say that Sam reached that goal of competing at the state level. Because of my work with Sam, I was invited to teach a class to young adults with down syndrome.
Telemedicine wellness style should not be overlooked. It’s a way to keep all of us informed, educated and engaged no matter where we are.
Cathy Whitt is Community Wellness Specialist, Holy Cross Health.
