Local hospital officials believe the health care changes brought by COVID-19 will forever alter health care delivery.
The comments came during a health care roundtable hosted Thursday by 2nd Congressional District Rep. Angie Craig, DFL-Minnesota. The briefing was intended to provide updates on the implementation of federal relief packages and protecting front-line workers. Discussion came the same day Gov. Tim Walz extended Minnesota’s stay-at-home order until May 18.
Northfield Hospital and Clinics President and CEO Steve Underdahl told Craig doesn’t expect virtual health care to significantly diminish once the pandemic passes. Instead, he believes providers will question the necessity of face-to-face appointments.
But note the one exception…
Underdahl said a limiting factor in virtual visits could be the divide between broadband access in exurban Northfield compared to the surrounding rural area.
