TITLE: Recognizing September 19 to 25, 2021, as Telehealth Awareness Week.

SUMMARY: Recognizing September 19 to 25, 2021, as Telehealth Awareness Week.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Telehealth, the practice of providing health care services through the use of telecommunications technologies, has benefited millions of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and has become an increasingly important part of medical care in the U.S. and beyond; and WHEREAS, The advent of telehealth has allowed health care providers to remotely and securely connect with patients when in-person interaction is not clinically necessary or available, thereby enabling medical professionals to reach a larger number of patients; because of the safety challenges posed by COVID-19, telehealth and other virtual care services have enjoyed far wider use and now represent 15 to 20 percent of health care delivery; and WHEREAS, Serving as a valuable means of augmenting in-person care, telehealth has become an integral tool that allows providers to do more good for more people and can be particularly helpful for patients in need of specialty treatment; and WHEREAS, Broadening access to telehealth services has the potential to greatly benefit patients who currently have more limited health care options, including members of rural and underserved communities; and WHEREAS, Telehealth Awareness Week is taking place from September 19 to 25, 2021, and serves as an occasion to unite patients, caregivers, health care providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders around the goal of advancing the role of telehealth in our health care system; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby recognize September 19 to 25, 2021, as Telehealth Awareness Week and encourage Texans to learn more about their telehealth options. Perry President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on September 1, 2021.