46 September 2021
HEALTH
T
racy Muhammad, MD,
can attest to the lifesaving
connection that technology
has made possible for
doctors and their patients.
Last year, due to the
COVID pandemic, Cape Fear Valley Health
implemented telehealth visits, adding
the opportunity for patients to check in
with their doctors by video. e visits are
available through myChart, Cape Fear
Valley's patient portal app.
"When COVID hit, my practice
skyrocketed with telehealth," said Dr.
Muhammad, a board-certified internist at
Cape Fear Valley's Continuity Clinic on
Walter Reed Road. "Many of my patients
were afraid to come in because they didn't
want to be exposed to COVID. But they
realized that it was very important for them
to continue their care, especially those with
chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD
and hypertension."
at point sometimes became critical,
she said.
"I had a patient at the beginning of
COVID who would schedule telehealth
visits just about every day, which was really
unlike him," she said. "He was worried
because he was working and oen around
groups of people."
Dr. Muhammad said that the patient
became short of breath over a period of two
days, and through telehealth, she was able
to instruct him to undergo a COVID test
immediately.
Your doctor is (always) in with
Cape Fear Valley Health's
myChart app
BY KIM HAST Y
Dr. Tracy
Muhammad is a
board-certified
internist at Cape
Fear Valley's
Continuity Clinic on
Walter Reed Road.
PHOTO
BY
TONY
WOOTEN
