--- title: Brave New Normal description: Prior to the pandemic, only 1 in 50 Cleveland Clinic outpatient visits was handled via telehealth. image: https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/1200x630-Social-BraveNewNormal.jpg --- [![Cleveland Clinic Magazine - Giving Does Good | Summer 2020](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/logo-cc-magazine-2020-summer-mb-inverse.png?noresize&width=224&height=38&name=logo-cc-magazine-2020-summer-mb-inverse.png) ![Cleveland Clinic Magazine - Giving Does Good | Summer 2020](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/logo-cc-magazine-2020-summer-inverse.png?noresize&width=552&height=65&name=logo-cc-magazine-2020-summer-inverse.png)](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) CARE # Brave New Normal ## Share - [Share on facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/brave-new-normal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) - [Share on twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/brave-new-normal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/brave-new-normal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) - [Share on linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/brave-new-normal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) - [Share on email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20Brave%20New%20Normal%20&body=Check%20out%20https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/brave-new-normal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) Photos: Michael Candiotti ![Doctor having a video call with patients and family](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/Brave%20New%20Normal/360x360-BraveNewNormal-Right.jpg?width=360&height=360&name=360x360-BraveNewNormal-Right.jpg) *Cleveland Clinic worked with the federal government to lift state-specific restrictions for telemedicine platforms, which has allowed the health system to care for more patients during the pandemic.* ![Doctors putting on protect gear in a hospital](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/Brave%20New%20Normal/360x360-BraveNewNormal-Left.jpg?width=360&height=360&name=360x360-BraveNewNormal-Left.jpg) *Caregivers use a buddy system to ensure that they’re putting on and taking off protective gear correctly.* Prior to the pandemic, only 1 in 50 Cleveland Clinic outpatient visits was handled via telehealth. By mid-April, however, having patients interact with caregivers on phones or other digital devices was no longer the exception but the rule, with 3 out of 4 visits occurring virtually. By working with government officials to expand telehealth privileges, Cleveland Clinic was able to meet patient needs while flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases by delivering more care remotely. The urgency of the global crisis also accelerated other innovations across the health system. Cleveland Clinic teamed up with healthcare software company Epic to create an app for monitoring and managing patients at home with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. They’re enrolled in an interactive care plan, entering symptoms, temperature readings and oxygen levels daily. If a patient’s condition worsens, the app alerts providers who can quickly determine next steps. “It gives patients that extra level of comfort,” says Eric Boose, MD, Associate Chief Medical Information Officer at Cleveland Clinic. “It also gives us this great capability of keeping an eye on more patients at one time.” Not every breakthrough was high-tech. To reduce risk for patients with COVID-19 and caregivers in intensive care units, Cleveland Clinic moved equipment and IV poles outside patient rooms and into hallways. To further promote safety, a product called the High-Line was adapted to enable caregivers to keep long lines of IV tubing up and off the floor. Direct contact was minimized by writing messages to patients on glass walls. Caregivers also began using a buddy system to ensure correct donning and doffing of protective gear. Cleveland Clinic devised innovative ways to safely care for patients in the ICU. ## In this Issue ### [![Hundreds of empty hospital beds connected with copper tubbing lined up within a large room inside the Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/Hope%20in%20the%20time%20of%20covid/242x214-Small-Thumbnail-HopeInTheTimeOfCOVID.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=242x214-Small-Thumbnail-HopeInTheTimeOfCOVID.jpg) INTRO Hope in the Time of COVID-19](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/hope-in-the-time-of-covid-19?hsLang=en) ### [![collage of 10 doctors ](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/Heroes%20Among%20Us/Heroes-SmallThumbnail-242x214.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=Heroes-SmallThumbnail-242x214.jpg) PROFILES IN HOPE The Heroes Among Us](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/the-heroes-among-us?hsLang=en) ### [![An illustration of a big green circle with protruding circles on a right yellow-green background with two black block figures standing far away from each other on a blue triangle shape. ](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/Road%20to%20Recovery/242x214-SmallThumbnail-RoadToRecovery.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=242x214-SmallThumbnail-RoadToRecovery.jpg) PERSPECTIVE Road to Recovery](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/road-to-recovery?hsLang=en) ### [![Dr. Mihaljevic wearing a face mask.](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Summer%202020/A%20Way%20Forward%20-%20Dr.%20Mihaljevic/2-242x214-SmallThumbnail-AWayForward.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=2-242x214-SmallThumbnail-AWayForward.jpg) INTERVIEW 'A Way Forward'](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/a-way-forward?hsLang=en) - [Archive](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/archive?hsLang=en) - [Contact](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-summer/contact?hsLang=en) - [Subscribe](https://donate.clevelandclinic.org/sign-up?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) [![Cleveland Clinic](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine%20Template%20Assets/img/logo-cc.png?width=300&name=logo-cc.png "Cleveland Clinic")](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/) © 2026 Cleveland Clinic. 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