Provider Spotlight: This Telemedicine Physician Moved to a New State Without Moving to a New Job
Initially, Dr. Niraj Patel was drawn to telemedicine because of the flexibility it offered. At the time, he had a newborn and wanted to be more present for his family.
But once he’d been practicing virtually for a while, and had joined GoodRx Care, he realized that this new approach to providing care was meeting more of his personal and professional needs than he could have imagined. Not only is he able to spend more time with his family, but he’s also able to fulfill his passion for caring for underserved populations, writing patient education materials, and helping to develop an EMR.
About a year ago, Dr. Patel started experiencing health issues that ultimately led to a need for him and his family to move out of state. The leadership team at GoodRx Care made it a seamless transition, and he was able to continue the exact same work in a new location.
Where are you currently practicing medicine?
Dr. Patel: I’m practicing in my empty apartment with no furniture at the moment in South San Francisco, CA. My one-year-old daughter, Meera, is loving it since it gives her direct access to me all the time. I know what you’re thinking, why would someone move during a pandemic if they’re a telemedicine provider?
The last 12 months have been an interesting time for me personally, outside of the pandemic. After moving to Texas during the summer of 2019, I began suffering from a systemic reaction to the local environment that resulted in the majority of my body being covered in a rash (including my face). I couldn’t be outside of my office or apartment for more than a few minutes at a time without developing a reaction. After consulting with many local medical providers, and undergoing multiple treatments, I was recommended to move out of state.
The leadership at GoodRx Care offered to help me relocate to the Bay Area due to my health concerns, which was incredible. Unfortunately, by the time we were ready to move, the pandemic had struck, so my personal 8 weeks of isolation from the local environment became 20 weeks without going outside for more than a few minutes at a time.
My wife, Anita, has been my rock through all of this with her endless support and patience. I’m happy to report that since moving to South San Francisco, I’ve finally been able to take my daughter to the park without any concerns.
What initially drew you to telemedicine?
Dr. Patel: I was initially drawn to telemedicine around the time my daughter was born. I loved having the flexibility of being able to impact so many more patients a week than in the office, while also being there for my wife, Anita. As time progressed, I realized that a lot of my other interests in medicine could be fulfilled through working at GoodRx Care as well, such as: serving the underserved/uninsured population, writing patient education materials through the blog, and being involved in the development of an EMR.
What do you say to providers who are wary of telemedicine?
Dr. Patel: I say that telemedicine is not appropriate for everything. There is a line we as providers have to draw when a patient needs a pertinent physical exam or further testing that we can’t do on the other side of a screen. As long as we practice evidence-based medicine and use our clinical judgment wisely, we can provide appropriate care to all patients, regardless of if it’s virtual or in-person.
What do you think the future holds for telemedicine?
Dr. Patel: I think we’ve only seen a taste of what’s yet to come. There was a giant leap that was made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and I don’t think that progress is going to stop any time soon. I picture a world where patients and providers stay in touch via asynchronous means (text messages or recorded video like Snapchat). If we take it a notch further, I can even imagine a world where a patient interacts with a provider through the means of virtual reality. The possibilities are endless. It’s an exciting time for medicine.
What’s unique about what GoodRx Care is doing in the telemedicine space?
Dr. Patel: This is hands down the best job I’ve ever had. I love what the company stands for and the leadership we have in place. I really feel like the number one priority is wellness and happiness. We really care about each other’s lives, families, health — you name it. I feel like this rubs off on the patients as well. We’re willing to go the extra mile for patients since we routinely do it for each other. At the end of the day, we care about providing the best care possible for the patient, no matter the circumstance. It’s a fantastic work culture and I feel blessed that I’m a part of it.
