Name: Blue Cross exec says expanded telehealth options allows people to stay safe and healthy during pandemic
Uploaded: 2020-09-22T21:32:14-0400
Duration: 262973
Description: Dr. Anuradha Rao-Patel, medical director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, says telehealth has been critical to maintain patient health during the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

Dr. Anuradha Rao-Patel, medical director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, says telehealth has been critical to maintain patient health during the coronavirus pandemic.

YOU CAN COUNT ON WITH WRAL NEWS. >>> OH, THE STRUGGLES THAT THE PANDEMIC IS CAUSING, DR. -- IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IS JOINING US LIVE TO TALK ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES DURING THIS PANDEMIC. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A DOCTOR AND THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW WITH THE PANDEMIC? >> SO, WE HEARD GOV. COOPER TALK ABOUT HOW METRICS HAVE STABILIZED AND THAT THERE WILL BE SOME REOPENING NEXT WEEK, I THINK WE ARE STILL NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. I THINK WE HEAR TERMS LIKE COVID BURNOUT AND PANDEMIC FATIGUE BECAUSE IT GETS TIRESOME TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS BUT I THINK IT IS STILL IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY AFTER GOING INTO FLU SEASON THAT IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO WEAR MASKS AND SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND CONTINUE TO WASH OUR HANDS. >> YOU SPECIALIZE IN PAIN MANAGEMENT AND AS A MATTER OF FACT YOU ARE A LEADER IN THE OPIOID CRISIS AND TRYING TO COMBAT IT. HOW IS THIS KIND OF CARE BEING MANAGED DURING THE PANDEMIC? >> MANAGING CHRONIC CONDITIONS IS CHALLENGING ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY WITH CHRONIC PAIN WHICH CAN BE A DIFFICULT THING TO MANAGE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE STRESSORS WE ARE GOING THROUGH ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS IT CAN CERTAINLY INCREASE SOMEONE'S PAIN AND CAN ALSO INCREASE STRESSORS, MENTAL STRESSORS. THEREFORE THE POTENTIAL FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. SO WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC BUT THERE IS ALSO AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC. SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT PATIENTS CONTINUE TO KEEP THEIR VISITS WITH THEIR DOCTOR AND HAVE OPEN COMMUNICATION AND BE FORTHCOMING ABOUT THEIR SYMPTOMS. >> SPEAKING OF THAT, WE'VE BEEN REPORTING ON PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO THE DOCTOR, NOT FOR CHECKUPS OR EVEN A SERIOUS CONCERN. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IN PERSON CARE? >> LIKE I MENTIONED, PREVENTIVE CARE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING TIME NOT JUST FOR PATIENTS BUT FOR DOCTORS AS WELL. WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO KEEP THEIR IMPORTANCE WHETHER IT'S FOR VACCINES OR PREVENTATIVE CARE WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, I KNOW FROM PERSONAL FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE THAT DOCTORS OFFICES ARE TAKING MEASURES NOT ONLY TO KEEP THEIR STATUS -- STAFF SAFE, LIKE HAVING A VIRTUAL WAITING ROOM OR HAVING PATIENTS WAIT IN THE CAR UNTIL THEIR APPOINTMENT TIME, BAKING MASKS MANDATORY AND WASHING HANDS AND SOME STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE IS A DECREASE IN CANCER RATES BUT THIS IS LIKELY NOT AN ACTUAL DECREASE. IT'S LIKELY DUE TO A DECREASE IN SCREENINGS. SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT PATIENTS KEEP THEIR APPOINTMENTS WITH THEIR DOCTORS AND AGAIN WE OFFER TELEHEALTH VISITS AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE PATIENTS TO CALL THEIR DOCTORS OFFICES AND HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION AND SAY I'M NERVOUS ABOUT COMING IN, WHAT HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE IN YOUR OFFICE SO THAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING IN TO BE SEEN? >> YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT TELEHEALTH HAS BEEN A PART OF WHAT BLUE CROSS HAS BEEN DOING FOR 20 YEARS AND NOW IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. HOW MUCH CONTACT AND DIAGNOSIS CAN YOU DO WITH THE PATIENT EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE TALKING OVER A COMPUTER SCREEN? >> AT BLUE CROSS WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC KNOWING THAT EARLY ON DOCTORS OFFICES HAD CLOSED AND OF COURSE WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT THE NERVOUSNESS OF PATIENTS GOING AND PHYSICALLY SO WE DID EXPAND TELEHEALTH POLICIES TO COVER VISITS SO THAT TELEHEALTH VISITS ARE THE SAME AS IN PERSON. I THINK THERE IS A LOT THAT CAN BE GAINED FROM A TELEHEALTH VISIT, AS I MENTIONED PREVENTATIVE CARE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SO BEING ABLE TO CALL INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND HAVE THEM VISUALIZE YOU BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR SYMPTOMS IS SO IMPORTANT. AGAIN, I THINK OF PATIENTS ARE NERVOUS ABOUT GOING AND THEN TELEHEALTH IS A GREAT OPTION FOR THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU SO

Debra Morgan

Matthew Burns

Blue Cross exec says expanded telehealth options allows people to stay safe and healthy during pandemic

Cary's RelyMD merges with MyidealDOCTOR as telehealth continues to rise

WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

I'm meteorologist, Amy Wilma in the WRL severe weather center, we had a dry warm day today, but a cold front is off to the west of us and it arrives tomorrow and brings the potential for some scattered showers and some thunderstorms. It's a pretty potent system today with a level three out of five risk for part of the Midwest. But the severe weather will be moving eastward as this cold front moves eastward as well. And we'll have the risk for severe storms tomorrow. Although the storm energy will not be as high tomorrow as it is today. There's a lot of storm energy west of us today and that's why they have that higher risk for severe storms. But as this system moves closer to North Carolina, it does weaken. We could still have some isolated severe storms but we have weak to moderate energy. We don't have the strong energy that they have west of us today. So it's a level one risk for most of us Friday. This is in the afternoon and evening. So isolated severe storms possible. The biggest threat will be some damaging winds and a potential for some hail as Well, the first half of the day is dry, so no rain worries for the morning commute. But by the time we get to the afternoon and evening, that's when we'll have scattered showers and storms and any of the storms that do form could become severe. And our highest rain chances are right during the evening commute. So about a 40% chance for rain tomorrow as we move ahead to Saturday, only a slim chance for a shower, a 20% chance for rain. But then a decent chance for rain on Sunday, we don't expect storms, but mainly the second half of our Sunday will have some scattered showers and it will be a cooler day. Here's a look at the rain over the weekend again, just a slim chance for rain on Saturday. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low to mid seventies. Sunday morning looks mainly dry with a little bit of rain over some of our southern counties. But then as we head toward the afternoon, a better chance for rain, especially south and east of the triangle. And then during the evening is when some of that rain lifts to the north and includes a good part of the viewing area on Sunday. So the second half of the day certainly looks like the wettest part of the day, still warm Friday with a high of 84. And then we're down into the mid seventies Saturday, high temperatures will be in the low to mid sixties for Sunday and Monday with some chilly mornings, Monday morning and Tuesday morning. Down into the forties, we warm back up next week though. 74 on Tuesday, 78 Wednesday and near 70 for a high temperature on Thursday.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Gayle Hurd. Welcome to tonight's joins for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Well, let's get started tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first winning number is a three. Our second number is three also and our third number tonight is two and our pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for tonight's drawing is our auditor from mcconal and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone is that first winning pick four number. It's a seven. Our second number is six. Third number tonight is seven again and our fourth number is two and our pick for a fireball number is an eight. We're turning now to the Carolina cash five. If no one was the top prize tonight. Tomorrow, our prize is estimated at $235,000. Good luck. Everyone. Who's that first winning cash five number. It's 22. Second number is five third number tonight is it 25. Our fourth number is 10 and the final number in our cash drive this evening is 21. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education Thanks to your support. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Have a great night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Good afternoon. I'm back. Global. Welcome to this news drawings for Thursday, April 18th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three numbers zero. The second is one, the third is six that are pick three. Fireball number is one. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor for a con and Jones L LP. Now move on to Carolina pick for the first four. Number is three. The second is for the third is 54, is seven in our pick four. Fireball number is nine. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks for your support and thanks for playing.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

After 22 years in business, Armadillo Grill on Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh has closed.



WE HAVE MORE RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR THE WEEKEND. I'LL SHOW YOU COMING UP. THE LIST OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH BUSINESSES SHUTTING THEIR DOORS IS ARMADILLO GRILL IS THE LATEST TO CLOSE FOR GOOD. >> WRAL'S SEAN GALLAGHER IS IN DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TO FIND OUT WITH THIS MEANS FOR THE GLENN WOOD, SOUTH AREA. SEAN, THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF FOLKS. >> YEAH, THIS WAS VERY ABRUPT SO ABRUPT THAT WE'VE SEEN A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE COMING UP HERE TRYING TO GET LUNCH ON THIS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND THEY'RE MET WITH THIS SIGN ON THE DOOR, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE SHUT DOWN FOR GOOD, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AT THIS LOCATION. NOW, THIS TEX MEX RESTAURANT CALL THE CORNER OF GLENWOOD AVENUE AND TUCKER STREET HOME FOR THE LAST. 22 YEARS. IN A FACEBOOK POST, THE OWNERS SAY CHANGES IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND RISING COSTS ARE WHY THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN THIS LOCATION. IT'S THE LATEST IN A STRING OF STAPLE BUSINESSES RALLY, CLOSING CLOUDS BREWING, SHUT DOWN ITS RALEIGH TAVERN ON WEST STREET EARLIER THIS MONTH IN THE CAPITAL CLUB. 16 IS SHUTTING DOWN AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. OUR BELOVED REAL SAID THEY WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER LOCATION TO SERVE THE RALEIGH COMMUNITY. BUT FOR SHARE MCCRACKEN OF GARDEN SCAPE DESIGNER FOR BUSINESSES AROUND THIS AREA. THIS IS JUST A SIGN OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. >> IT'S ELEVATING RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO KIND OF ROLL WITH IT. NATURALLY COMING TO AN END AND MAYBE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPOT THAT'S PERFECT FOR THEM. BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THERE IS A CHANGE GOING ON ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH. >> AN ARMADILLO GRILL WILL ARE STILL OFFER THEIR CATERING SERVICES HERE AND THEY WILL STILL OPERATE THEIR FLAGSHIP LOCATION IN CARRBORO. BUT RENEE, THAT'S ABOUT 40 MINUTES AWAY RIGHT NEAR UNC CAMPUS. >> WHILE CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A LOT FARTHER AND WE WILL SEE WHAT ENDS UP TAKING ITS PLACE. THERE ON GLENWOOD

Glenwood South staple Armadillo Grill closes

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Is powerball. Good evening, everyone. I'm Randy Trainer. Tonight. We have our life changing jackpot. It's estimated to be $80.7 million to get your tickets ready. Here. Come, tonight's winning numbers. Let's start things off this evening with the number 24. Right after that America. We have the number 54 and congratulations to Lisa Hayes from Illinois. She won $2 million playing powerball. All right, the rest of your winning number is 4447. And let's round it out tonight with the number 29 and tonight's win powerball number that's gonna be two and your power play multiplier is two. Let's take a look at tonight's winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. Good luck, everyone. We'll see you back here on Saturday night. It's time to play America's favorite.

Powerball Drawing

A crash has shut down all but one lane of Interstate 540 westbound near Buffaloe Road in Raleigh. Sky 5 is over the scene

Crash shuts down I-540 West near Buffaloe Road in Raleigh; Sky 5 is over the scene

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. HELLO, MAYOR COMES ON CODE IS TUESDAY. APRIL 16TH AND TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED A NEW TIES. 148 MILLION DOLLARS. >> DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. TONIGHT'S DRAWING HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED. ONCE THE MALFUNCTION IS CORRECTED, THE DRAWING WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE AUDITOR. WE SAY TO THE STATION FOR ALL WINNING NUMBERS. >> SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POPPING UP HOW

Blue Cross exec says expanded telehealth options allows people to stay safe and healthy during pandemic

More On This

Cary's RelyMD merges with MyidealDOCTOR as telehealth continues to rise

Hospitals need to change to handle more telehealth, policy expert says

Consultant urges seniors to take advantage of telehealth, other services during pandemic

Nonprofit clinic adds telehealth technology

Related Topics

More Videos