With hospital systems responding to unprecedented demand, and people with possible COVID-19 symptoms often unsure of where to get care, two Mount Sinai physicians saw an opportunity for technology to come to the rescue.

David F. Putrino, PhD, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System, and Christopher Kellner, MD, a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon with the Mount Sinai Health System, developed Precision Recovery, an innovative system to monitor patients with COVID-19 symptoms remotely so they can stay home and rapidly respond to their needs when necessary. In this Q&A, they describe how this novel platform can help patients and hospitals in New York and throughout the United States.

What is Precision Recovery?

Precision Recovery is a digital platform that goes a step beyond the typical telehealth scenario because it monitors the patient’s symptoms daily, enables us to get patients the right care for their situation, and escalate it when appropriate. Anybody in the country can sign up, just by texting the words “Precision Recovery” to 332-213-9130. We onboard them with a video chat and then they download an app on any smart device so that we can monitor their symptoms every day. The platform tracks the patient’s symptoms—whether it be fever, headaches, or respiratory symptoms—and alerts us to contact the patient if their symptoms are worsening.

We initially developed Precision Recovery as a program to help individuals recovering from stroke who needed close daily monitoring. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we quickly adapted the program to provide day-by-day monitoring of individuals who are showing signs of COVID-19 but were unsure whether they should go to the emergency room or just ride it out at home.

We saw that people would go to the emergency room and one of several things might happen: they may or may not be tested, or no testing might be available, and many times they would be told that they were not sick enough to be admitted. And that might be the end of their care. If they get sicker, they don’t know whether they should go back to the emergency room or call a doctor, or just stay home.

There’s a lot of fear and anxiety around COVID-19. How does Precision Recovery provide a sense of security?

We want people to think of us as a safety net. We’re here to answer any concerns people have about their symptoms. Once a patient signs up, a provider from the Precision Recovery team will contact the person for an online video chat. As part of the onboarding, the patient downloads a daily symptom tracking app, MyCap, and enters their symptoms and vital data. The team is then able to track symptoms of the virus, such as body temperature, cough, breathing levels, and body aches. There will be a weekly video chat to check in on the patient through Zoom, but if we see symptoms get worse, we will get in touch with the patient. If necessary, we can get them an ambulance and get them to the right hospital. And we can do that for anybody in the country.

Is this available to other health systems?

Currently, this is only implemented at Mount Sinai but there are a numerous health care systems with whom we are collaborating to roll this out shortly in their hospitals.

Telemedicine appointments with a pediatrician are one option available to parents who do not want to delay seeking care from their doctor. Carolina Pombar, MD, a pediatrician the Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice and an Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explains what to expect from a telemedicine appointment and some of the benefits.

How is a telemedicine well visit similar to an in-office well visit?
Similar to an in-office visit, during the telemedicine visit, which consists of a face-to-face video conference with your child’s pediatrician, you will have the opportunity to discuss nutrition, development, sleep, parenting, updates on any chronic conditions, and any concerns you have.

How does a telemedicine well visit differ from an in-office visit?
Your child’s pediatrician will not be able to perform a complete exam, however there are many parts of the exam which can be observed on the video conference such as examining your child’s skin or looking for any signs your child may have difficulty breathing. Some of the screening exams which are performed in the office, such as hearing, vision, and blood pressure screens, cannot be done, however your child’s pediatrician will discuss with you the best time to have these checked. If your child is due for immunizations and/or lab work, the doctor will discuss with you the best time to bring your child in for these.

What are some benefits of telemedicine well visits?
During a time that you may not be able to bring your child to the office, telemedicine well visits give you the opportunity to connect with your child’s pediatrician, ask questions, and address concerns you may have. The doctor has the unique opportunity to observe the child in their natural environment, whether it be their permanent or temporary home. Children are often more comfortable in these familiar places and therefore are more playful and vocal. Your pediatrician will be able to do a developmental assessment based on these observations and can guide you about future milestones to look out for. Telemedicine visits let you and your child’s doctor stay up to date with your child’s medical care and allow your family to remain safe at home.

Carolina Pombar, MD

How can you and your child prepare for telemedicine well visits?
Prior to the visit, if you have a scale, you can try to measure your child’s weight without clothes and a diaper on. If you have a measuring tape, you can attempt to measure your child’s height by having them lie down, make a mark or place an object at the top of their head and bottom of their feet and measure the distance in between. Let your child’s doctor know about these measurements during the visit. They will be able to plot them, and you can review your child’s growth curve together.

During the visit, you should have your child available. It is okay if they crawl or walk off to play. Your child’s doctor is happy to observe them play as part of the visit. If possible, have your child wear clothes that can be easily raised up or pulled down in case there is anything you would like the doctor to examine as part of the telemedicine visit.

In which cases may your child’s pediatrician consider treating your child with antibiotics?
Antibiotics are medications which treat bacterial infections. Common bacterial infections that often require antibiotic treatment in children include ear infections, sore throat caused by streptococcal bacteria, certain skin infections, pneumonias, and urinary tract infections.

Why are doctors careful about prescribing antibiotics?
If antibiotics are overused, bacteria can become resistant to them and the medication loses its effectiveness in treating the bacteria. In addition, like all medications, antibiotics can be associated with side effects. Pediatricians have to carefully consider these variables when making the best decision for treatment for your child.

Is an in-office exam necessary to get a prescription for the antibiotics?
Pediatricians use the physical exam as an important diagnostic tool to make decisions about whether or not antibiotics are needed. Some parts of the exam/visit cannot be performed virtually. These include an internal ear exam, listening to the lungs, and swabbing the throat to test for infection. There are some parts of the exam that can be observed virtually including the skin exam and signs of difficulty breathing. If it is not possible for your child to come into the office, your pediatrician may recommend a telemedicine visit so they can observe your child. Based on the history and this observed exam, your child’s pediatrician may determine that a bacterial infection is likely and may consider prescribing antibiotics without seeing the child in the office.

Most people who have COVID-19 can recuperate at home, while remaining in contact with their doctor. Abigail R. Chen, MD, Senior Medical Director at Mount Sinai Doctors Downtown, tells you what you need to know to address COVID-19 symptoms at home.

Can I stay at home if I have COVID-19?

Generally, yes. Most people who test positive for COVID-19 will have mild symptoms–like a cough or sore throat. If you are experiencing mild symptoms, you can certainly recuperate at home by treating with over-the-counter medications.  Below, I outline how to address the most common COVID-19 symptoms at home.

For information on protecting others in your home, read through the CDC guidelines.

How often should I check in with my doctor?

You should keep in touch with your doctor regularly. If your doctor does not recommend a follow-up appointment, you should feel comfortable asking for one. It is important to understand that recuperating from COVID-19 is not a linear trajectory. You may start to feel better and then, after a few days, feel worse again. It is important, though, to have a doctor monitor your symptoms; he or she can tell you if what you are experiencing is standard or concerning. These days, many doctors are available by email, as well as phone and video.

Are there certain people who should be extra vigilant?

The elderly and people who have hypertension, obesity, and diabetes should be especially careful about discussing any COVID-19 symptoms with their doctor. These conditions have been closely linked to relatively severe cases of the virus. If you have any of these conditions and are experiencing any symptoms that resemble COVID-19, please keep in contact with your doctor.

What if my doctor tells me to go to the hospital? Do I have to?

If your doctor does advise you to go to the hospital, please do so. These days, many people fear hospitals and doctors’ offices. But health care facilities are taking special care to protect you. If you need hospital-level care, it is important that you get it.

These days, we are all worried about contracting COVID-19. We know people who have symptoms of the virus often go to a hospital’s emergency department—most known to patients as the emergency room—to seek immediate care. For this reason, many people are nervous about going to the hospital for any other reason. But, that is not always the best approach. Brendan Carr, MD, Chair of Emergency Medicine for the Mount Sinai Health System, explains what you need to know about going to the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Should I go to the hospital for emergency care?

In a medical emergency, you should seek help—and that means going to the emergency department. If you delay seeking help for conditions that need immediate attention, we may not be able to do as much for you. If you have a problem with your heart or your breathing, if you have chest pains or symptoms of a stroke, it is important to be evaluated as soon as possible, for the best outcome. We want to help, but we cannot do anything for you if we do not know there is a problem.

I am concerned about safety. What is being done at hospitals to ensure that it is safe for patients?

Throughout the Mount Sinai Health System—and at most other hospitals in the country—we have spent a lot of time changing our set-up and workflow to protect against exposure to COVID-19. We are very diligent about how we clean all the high-traffic areas. We make sure that all staff members wear masks and we give patients masks as they go into the emergency room.  We are doing everything we can to protect you from possible exposure.

To help us help you, there are some things that you can bring when you come. Have a list of all your medical problems and the medications you take. It can help to bring the medicines themselves. While this advice is always true, it is especially important during this pandemic. In addition, you might want to bring a cell phone and phone charger so that you can reach out to friends and family about what is happening. You also may end up spending a fair amount of time at the hospital, so it cannot hurt to bring a book or some sort of entertainment to make your wait easier.

Should I go to the hospital, urgent care, or schedule a video visit with a medical provider?

It depends on what is happening. If you are experiencing something that you have been treated for in the past and you have an idea of what is wrong—or it is a minor problem—then it is totally appropriate to go to an urgent care center. You can also call your doctor’s office to arrange for a video appointment. We provide a number of virtual care options through Mount Sinai Now, including virtual urgent care and the ability to text with a physician about your health concerns. If your doctor thinks you need a higher level of care, they will refer you to the emergency department or to a specialist.

Are there special precautions I should take if I have to go to the hospital?

Think about going to the emergency department the way you think about doing all the other important things in your life. There is always a risk of exposure when you leave the house, but we still go to the grocery store and to the pharmacy. Going to the hospital when you are worried that you are ill or injured is another part of taking care of yourself. We are here for you and are doing everything we can to keep you safe. It is important to follow all the safety rules in the emergency department that you would anywhere else. Wear a mask, wash your hands regularly, and practice social distancing.