Initiative Brings Specialty Care to Rural Markets
Blue Shield of California and Adventist Health launched a telehealth initiative to increase access to specialty care in rural areas. Blue Shield members can be diagnosed and treated by specialists from across the state through interactive video technology available at a local Adventist Health site. Blue Shield individual and family plan customers, can seek specialty care that’s not available in their areas through the telehealth network — including those who purchased coverage through Covered California. Specialties include cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology (diabetes), pulmonology, rheumatology (arthritis), orthopedics, infectious disease, nephrology, gastroenterology, general surgery and spine surgery. The specialists are Adventist Health physicians who are contracted in the Blue Shield network. Patients can be referred by their local primary physician or can self-refer, make an appointment through a centralized care coordination call center, and go to their local Adventist Health location for their office visit.The Adventist Health sites are in the following cities in Covered California regions one and two: Paradise, Clearlake, Ukiah, Willits, Fort Bragg, St. Helena, Napa, and Sonora. For more information, visit www.blueshieldca.com/telehealth.
