Telemedicine expands to provide healthcare to all amid coronavirus crisis

HOLLISTON — Telemedicine is expanding in a major way with Medicare covering seniors. The state has ordered insurers to cover coronavirus patients, and for many other providers, they’ve shutdown their main offices, including mental health counselors.

Courtney Romanowski is a licensed mental health counselor in Holliston counselor whose office was closed as a precaution because of coronavirus.

She’s had to transform her practice in a matter of days.

She still comes to work, but her client visits are now virtual.

“Video conferencing if people are not comfortable with the face to face part of it, we can shut the video off so it’s just audio,” she said.

Her clients cope with depression, anxiety and substance abuse, all made tougher with social distancing.

“As great as it is to have the telehealth, there’s something lost when we don’t have the face-to-face sharing space, sharing energy being able to respond to body language, things like that,” she said.

For clients struggling with anxiety or depression, working from home Romanowski tells patients to keep their work routine of getting ready and mix in walking.

For those battling addiction, with fewer groups meeting and unable to come here, it’s harder.

“There’s power in numbers. When we don’t have those numbers physically around us, it can be that much more of a challenge to feel supported,” she said. “There are online groups through AA, smart recovery.”

When asked if she’s worried about people regressing at this time, Romanowski said: “Absolutely, absolutely.”

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