In March as COVID-19 began to spread throughout the Lehigh Valley, St. Luke’s University Health Network took extraordinary steps to keep as many patient appointments as possible by establishing itself as the regional leader in digital health.

More than 1,200 providers, including physical therapists, were trained to perform virtual visits. By last week, they had conducted more than 100,000 telehealth appointments.

Virtual therapy visits are available for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language pathology, using your smartphone, tablet or computer. So far, more than 3,000 visits have been completed including evaluations of more than 100 brand-new patients.

To ensure a successful telehealth or virtual visit:

• Plan ahead: Think about what you want to accomplish during the visit. Do you want to discuss your medications or treatment options? Do you need to renew a prescription? Do you need help for a specific medical condition or set of symptoms? Try to prioritize what’s most important for you during the call, as time may be limited. Have your basic health information ready.

• Find a quiet, private place to talk: Charge or plug in your phone or computer; get some paper and a pen for taking notes. Gather medical equipment such as a thermometer or asthma inhaler if appropriate.

• Don’t be afraid to talk: Your conversation with the doctor should be like an in-person appointment. Write down what you want to discuss before you start to make sure you cover everything.

Patients who already have a scheduled appointment or need a new appointment are encouraged to call their physicians’ office to schedule the virtual visit in place of their typical in-office visit. Then it’s simply a matter of connecting via phone or computer.

To find a provider, call 1-866-STLUKES (758-8537), option 4, or visit www.sluhn.org.