8 MARCH 2026IN MY OPINIONPatient Technical Support for Telehealth AppointmentsWith a diverse background in executing strategic visions and goals for telehealth services across major health systems, Lisa Stofko brings extensive experience from various sectors, including local government, private and not-for-profit industries, academia, and healthcare. She has a proven track record in guiding the development and expansion of telehealth programs, with expertise in aligning these initiatives with organizational objectives while upholding high standards of care and operational efficiency.Despite the early use of telemedicine by NASA in 1960 to monitor astronauts in flight by physicians and medical teams, it was the COVID-19 pandemic that brought terms like telemedicine, telehealth, virtual care, or video visits into the mainstream. When I began my telehealth career in 2008, video visits were seen as an innovative means to deliver healthcare. At that time, the technical means for a patient to connect with their provider via video were limited. Patients had to visit a clinic equipped to facilitate their video visits, as smartphones and relevant apps were not yet widely available. Additionally, prioritizing patient telehealth technical support was not part of the implementation checklist. As smartphones revolutionized how consumers and patients use technology, advancements in telehealth followed, enabling video visits from the comfort and privacy of patients' homes. This shift empowered patients to take charge of their video visits, putting them in the driver's seat.The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated the use of video visits, bringing them into widespread prominence and fully realizing By Lisa Stofko, Telehealth Director, CHOC Children\'sLisa Stofko
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