Mei Wa Kwong's guest appearances

Mei Wa Kwong

Rural Matters

RealTalk MS

Karen Jackson

Mitch Landrieu

Chris Shepherd

David Kessler

Liz Carey

Nicole Johnson

Aaron Miller

David Mitchell

Johns Hopkins

Chad Brown

Andrew Solomon

Joe Davis

Paul Campbell

Pauline Boss

Anna Johnson

OwlTail

Heather Dimeris

Marilyn Serafini

Walter Panzirer

In the second of our fabulous four-part series on Viewing Rural Health, Education, and Business Through an Equity Lens. produced in collaboration with and supported by Grantmakers in Health, Michelle talks with  Heather Dimeris. the Director for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a Commander in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS); Marilyn Werber Serafini, director of the Health Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University; Mei Wa Kwong  Executive Director for the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), the federally designated National Telehealth Policy Resource Center; and Walter Panzirer, a Trustee at the Helmsley Charitable Trust and grandson of Leona Helmsley. During the pandemic, Dimeris notes, telehealth expanded exponentially in utilization.  In 2020, health centers saw telehealth visits increase to more than 28 million, equating to a nearly 6,000% increase — with more than 5.7 million of these additional telehealth visits occurring in health centers serving rural communities This increase in telehealth services was possible because of the temporary flexibilities with telehealth reimbursement during the pandemic.  She also discussed the many ways that HRSA is seeking to address equity issues in rural areas in the further expansion of telehealth services, including a focus on tele-emergency care last year and on direct-to-consumer care this year,  in 2021. In addition, just last month, HRSA announced funding more than $19 million in key telehealth investments in rural and underserved communities. (Check out telehealth.hhs.gov for more information about telehealth and broadband resources for both patients and providers.) BPC recently conducted a national survey about lessons learned about telehealth use during the pandemic, Serafini notes, which found that about one in seven people (14%) who used telehealth said they would have sought care in an emergency department or urgent care if telehealth was not available, and that more than half of those people had their primary health issue resolved. The survey also found that consumers are likely to use telehealth in the future as it has served as a valuable tool for accessing routine and preventive care during the pandemic, she adds  Kwong says that the pandemic broadened awareness of telehealth and its breadth of utilization, but adds that  while telehealth is a terrific tool for providing these virtual services, it is important to note that many rural residents do not have the capability to access broadband. Panzirer describes how the Helmsley Foundation is funding needed health projects to address equity access in the rural upper Midwest.  This episode and the entire series is sponsored by Grantmakers In Health (GIH),  a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping foundations and corporate giving programs improve the health of all people. Learn more by visiting www.gih.org

In the second of our fabulous four-part series on Viewing Rural Health, Education, and Business Through an Equity Lens. produced in collaboration with and supported by Grantmakers in Health, Michelle talks with  Heather Dimeris. the Director for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a Commander in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS); Marilyn Werber Serafini, director of the Health Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center and an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University; Mei Wa Kwong  Executive Director for the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP), the federally designated National Telehealth Policy Resource Center; and Walter Panzirer, a Trustee at the Helmsley Charitable Trust and grandson of Leona Helmsley. During the pandemic, Dimeris notes, telehealth expanded exponentially in utilization.  In 2020, health centers saw telehealth visits increase to more than 28 million, equating to a nearly 6,000% increase — with more than 5.7 million of these additional telehealth visits occurring in health centers serving rural communities This increase in telehealth services was possible because of the temporary flexibilities with telehealth reimbursement during the pandemic.  She also discussed the many ways that HRSA is seeking to address equity issues in rural areas in the further expansion of telehealth services, including a focus on tele-emergency care last year and on direct-to-consumer care this year,  in 2021. In addition, just last month, HRSA announced funding more than $19 million in key telehealth investments in rural and underserved communities. (Check out <a href="http://telehealth.hhs.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">telehealth.hhs.gov</a> for more information about telehealth and broadband resources for both patients and providers.) BPC recently conducted a national survey about lessons learned about telehealth use during the pandemic, Serafini notes, which found that about one in seven people (14%) who used telehealth said they would have sought care in an emergency department or urgent care if telehealth was not available, and that more than half of those people had their primary health issue resolved. The survey also found that consumers are likely to use telehealth in the future as it has served as a valuable tool for accessing routine and preventive care during the pandemic, she adds  Kwong says that the pandemic broadened awareness of telehealth and its breadth of utilization, but adds that  while telehealth is a terrific tool for providing these virtual services, it is important to note that many rural residents do not have the capability to access broadband. Panzirer describes how the Helmsley Foundation is funding needed health projects to address equity access in the rural upper Midwest.  This episode and the entire series is sponsored by Grantmakers In Health (GIH),  a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping foundations and corporate giving programs improve the health of all people. Learn more by visiting <a href="http://www.gih.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">www.gih.org</a>

Rural Telehealth with Heather Dimeris, Marilyn Serafini, Walter Panzirer & Mei Wa Kwong  

One of the very few bright spots to emerge during the COVID-19 pandemic is the overall effectiveness and efficiency of telemedicine. And although people living with MS and their doctors have largely hailed telemedicine as a success, there are significant obstacles to overcome before it can become a permanent part of our healthcare system.       My guest is Mei Wa Kwong, the Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, and we're talking about the things that need to happen to ensure that telemedicine remains a viable means of healthcare delivery.   We're also talking about a study that demonstrates that playing a video game can improve cognitive function for people with MS.   We'll tell you about the research team that has identified the specific areas in the brain where the neurological changes triggered by fatigue actually occur, and why that's a good thing for people living with MS.   Over 1,000 people living with MS completed the global vsMS survey. We'll share the key results with you.   We'll also give you the details about a small MRI study that shows one way that the brains of African-Americans with MS are affected differently than the brains of Caucasians with MS. And we'll remind you about where you can register for the upcoming National MS Society's Black MS Experience Summit.   And we're inviting you to Keep Moving Forward, a virtual benefit to celebrate the MS Movement. You won't want to miss this!    We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!    A study shows that a video game can improve cognitive function for people with MS  2:25 Researchers identify areas of the brain that are affected by fatigue  5:09 Results of the global vsMS survey remind us of all the ways that MS interrupts lives    7:04 MRI study shows one way that MS affects the brains of African-Americans differently than Caucasians  9:30 National MS Society to convene the Black MS Experience Summit  10:50 You're invited to Keep Moving Forward, a virtual benefit to celebrate the MS Movement  11:56 My Interview with Mei Wa Kwong  13:31 Share this episode  23:48 Leave a rating &amp; review  24:09 Please Support the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  24:51 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link &amp; paste it into your text or email:  https://realtalkms.com/157 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: jon@realtalkms.comPhone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the RealTalk MS Facebook group! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the RealTalk MS app or at www.RealTalkMS.com Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Center for Connected Health Policy STUDY: A Novel In-Home Digital Treatment to Improve Processing Speed in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study STUDY: Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Physical Fatigue on Effort-Based Choice Effects of Multiple Sclerosis on Daily Activities, Emotional Well-being, and Relationships: The Global vsMS Survey STUDY: African Americans Experience Disproportionate Neurodegenerative Changes in the Medulla and Upper Cervical Spinal Cord in Early Multiple Sclerosis National MS Society Black MS Experience Summit Keep Moving Forward: A Benefit to Celebrate the MS Movement National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund Join the RealTalk MS Facebook Group Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS Download the RealTalk MS App for Android Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, @RealTalkMS_jon, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, RealTalkMS.com. RealTalk MS Episode 157 Guests: Ms. Mei Wa Kwong Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Telehealth, vsMS, RealTalkMS Privacy Policy

One of the very few bright spots to emerge during the COVID-19 pandemic is the overall effectiveness and efficiency of telemedicine. And although people living with MS and their doctors have largely hailed telemedicine as a success, there are significant obstacles to overcome before it can become a permanent part of our healthcare system.     My guest is Mei Wa Kwong, the Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, and we're talking about the things that need to happen to ensure that telemedicine remains a viable means of healthcare delivery.   We're also talking about a study that demonstrates that playing a video game can improve cognitive function for people with MS.   We'll tell you about the research team that has identified the specific areas in the brain where the neurological changes triggered by fatigue actually occur, and why that's a good thing for people living with MS.   Over 1,000 people living with MS completed the global vsMS survey. We'll share the key results with you.   We'll also give you the details about a small MRI study that shows one way that the brains of African-Americans with MS are affected differently than the brains of Caucasians with MS. And we'll remind you about where you can register for the upcoming National MS Society's Black MS Experience Summit.   And we're inviting you to Keep Moving Forward, a virtual benefit to celebrate the MS Movement. You won't want to miss this!   We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! A study shows that a video game can improve cognitive function for people with MS  2:25 Researchers identify areas of the brain that are affected by fatigue  5:09 Results of the global vsMS survey remind us of all the ways that MS interrupts lives    7:04 MRI study shows one way that MS affects the brains of African-Americans differently than Caucasians  9:30 National MS Society to convene the Black MS Experience Summit  10:50 You're invited to Keep Moving Forward, a virtual benefit to celebrate the MS Movement  11:56 My Interview with Mei Wa Kwong  13:31 Share this episode  23:48 Leave a rating &amp; review  24:09 Please Support the National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund  24:51 SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link &amp; paste it into your text or email:  <a href="https://realtalkms.com/157" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://realtalkms.com/157</a> ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podcast as a conversation. And this is your opportunity to join the conversation by sharing your feedback, questions, and suggestions for topics that we can discuss in future podcast episodes. Please shoot me an email or call the RealTalk MS Listener Hotline and share your thoughts! Email: <a href="mailto:jon@realtalkms..com" rel="noopener noreferrer">jon@realtalkms.com</a>Phone: (310) 526-2283 And don't forget to join us in the <a href="https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RealTalk MS Facebook group</a>! LINKS If your podcast app doesn't allow you to click on these links, you'll find them in the show notes in the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">RealTalk MS app</a> or at <a href="http://www.realtalkms.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">www.RealTalkMS.com</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkms.com/review" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review</a> <a href="https://realtalkms.com/national-ms-societys-ask-an-ms-expert-webinar-series/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">National MS Society's Ask An MS Expert Video Replay</a> <a href="https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-you-need-to-know-about-Coronavirus-(COVID-19)" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">What You Need to Know About Coronavirus (COVID-19)</a> <a href="https://www.cchpca.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Center for Connected Health Policy</a> <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1352458520930371" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">STUDY: A Novel In-Home Digital Treatment to Improve Processing Speed in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study</a> <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17855-5" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">STUDY: Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Physical Fatigue on Effort-Based Choice</a> <a href="https://meridian.allenpress.com/ijmsc/article/22/4/158/436102/Effect-of-Multiple-Sclerosis-on-Daily-Activities" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Effects of Multiple Sclerosis on Daily Activities, Emotional Well-being, and Relationships: The Global vsMS Survey</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32805478/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">STUDY: African Americans Experience Disproportionate Neurodegenerative Changes in the Medulla and Upper Cervical Spinal Cord in Early Multiple Sclerosis</a> <a href="https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/Library-Education-Programs/Black-MS-Experience-Summit" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">National MS Society Black MS Experience Summit</a> <a href="(https:/MSBenefit2020.givesmart.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Keep Moving Forward: A Benefit to Celebrate the MS Movement</a> <a href="https://realtalklms.com/covid19responsefund" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">National MS Society COVID-19 Response Fund</a> <a href="https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Join the RealTalk MS Fac</a><a href="https://facebook.com/groups/realtalkms" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">ebook Group</a> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/realtalk-ms/id1436917200" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Download the RealTalk MS App for iOS</a> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.realtalk" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Download the RealTalk MS App for Android</a> <a href="http://www.realtalkms.com/review" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Give RealTalk MS a Rating and Review</a> Follow RealTalk MS on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/RealTalkMS_jon" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@RealTalkMS_jon</a>, and subscribe to our newsletter at our website, <a href="https://www.realtalkms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">RealTalkMS.com</a>. RealTalk MS Episode 157 Guests: Ms. Mei Wa Kwong Tags: MS, MultipleSclerosis, MSResearch, MSSociety, Telehealth, vsMS, RealTalkMS <a href="https://realtalkms.com/privacy-policy" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>

Episode 157: The Future of Telehealth with Mei Wa Kwong