KPBS May 22, 2020
Carson Fame/American Homefront

Since providers and patients started self-quarantining in early March, t

he number of virtual visits using the Department of Veterans Affairs telehealth app has spiked from about 2,000 per day to nearly 20,000.

Patients and practitioners say that’s straining the system. They say many virtual appointments are hampered or have to be canceled because of technology problems.

Antonio, an Army veteran in his thirties, is one patient who’s had trouble with the VA’s Video Connect app. He asked to remain anonymous because he has ongoing disability claims with the department.

Antonio says a video visit with his social worker devolved into sign language.

“Immediately we had video but no audio,” Antonio remembered. “I could see that she...

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Topics: Digital Health, Health IT, Patient / Consumer, Provider, Technology, Telehealth, VA / DoD
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