Changing Landscape Of Telemedicine

Telemedicine  vs Telehealth

Telemedicine and Telehealth have grown in popularity over the years, but both became even more popular during the COVID-10 pandemic.

Other significant advances in technology and better privacy and security measures have also promoted the adoption of both. Telemedicine and Telehealth are frequently used interchangeably, though telemedicine is actually a subset of Telehealth. Telehealth encompasses all health services delivered via telecommunications technology, such as email consultations, medical condition sharing, remote patient monitoring, and medical devices. Telehealth can be used for therapy sessions, nutrition counseling, checkups, chronic illness maintenance, and screenings for disease.

Telemedicine includes video-based platforms for clinical services such as video conferencing and remote patient monitoring. Patients can connect with mental health therapists, nurse practitioners, and physicians, allowing them to receive care and address their questions and concerns virtually. However, Telemedicine is not intended to replace face-to-face visits. The goal is to improve the quality of patient care.

A Telemedicine visit is very similar to a traditional doctor’s appointment. Though you won’t see a healthcare provider in person, you will still be able to discuss your symptoms, get medical advice, and sometimes even get a prescription. Telemedicine can be helpful in reducing healthcare costs, increasing care accessibility, and even helping to improve patient outcomes.

Benefits to Consumers

In most ways Telemedicine is very similar to in-person visits. The same standard of care, code of ethics, and HIPPA guidelines apply. Service offerings are becoming more common, and it makes receiving medical care much easier, faster, and more convenient.

There are multiple benefits to Telemedicine:

It saves time spent traveling to and from appointments. It can be extremely difficult for some people to make time to visit the doctor. It enables the ability to provide care via video or phone, reducing time away from work or home. By eliminating the need to visit the office for certain visits, patients can save valuable time and resources. 

Services can be provided virtually anywhere. This includes during inclement weather and hazardous travel conditions. It improves medical access for people living in remote and rural areas as well as underserved communities, where travel can be inconvenient or expensive due to long travel times. Patients are able to maintain therapist appointments without disruption when it’s difficult to get into an office.  

Cost Savings: Appointments, in general, may cost less than in-person visits, so it can reduce out-of-pocket costs. There are no travel costs such as gas, parking, or public transportation.

Reduce the number of emergency room visits: Many new parents rush to the emergency room for middle-of-the-night care for their babies. Telemedicine can help answer quick questions and other unknowns without having to run to the emergency room or requiring a full visit scheduled with a doctor.

Reduced exposure. No more sitting in a waiting room and being exposed to pathogens and the spread of diseases like COVID-19, the flu, and other viruses.

Benefits to Medical Professionals

  • Telemedicine creates an easy interface for both doctors and patients. Prevent gaps in medical care: Doctors can continue to see patients even during closures for weather or like the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Scheduling inefficiencies, staffing challenges, and other common clinical hurdles are more easily avoided with telemedicine. Many telemedicine platforms have built-in patient registration and scheduling features that can streamline virtual appointment booking. A built-in billing system also makes payment collections for virtual appointments easy, with no time or money spent on sending out invoices.

  • It can save money on inpatient care costs, as patients are less likely to spend more time in the hospital.

Stats show 33% fewer hospital admissions and 31% fewer hospital readmissions.

  • Improved clinical results, easier follow-up visits after medical treatment, and allows remote patient monitoring options to better track and manage healthcare.

  • Helps with managing chronic conditions or follow-up with patients recovering from home.

  • Mobile applications, digital stethoscopes, at-home blood pressure wrist cuffs, and health-related smartphone notifications all help with at-home follow-up care.

  • Doctors can extend hours because it enhances the doctor-patient relationship and allows for increased business.

Drawbacks

While telemedicine allows doctors to discuss symptoms and treatment options, it does not allow for a physical exam. There are disadvantages since some services, such as drawing blood, physical exams, or diagnostic testing like MRIs and X-rays, cannot be performed virtually.

There are also other potential impacts of telemedicine adoption, such as concerns about digital privacy. Difficulty using new technology, or unreliable internet connections, or defective devices can be a challenge for both patients and doctors.

Not all healthcare insurance plans cover telemedicine. And some physicians may not want to go through the trouble of determining what is required to meet their state’s telemedicine guidelines. Because it varies by state, it can be confusing for patients and lead to unexpected costs or out-of-pocket fees.  There are limits to care delivered across state lines. Emergency declarations that made it easier for doctors to see patients in other states via video have ended.

What’s next for Telemedicine?

The pandemic accelerated the industry’s rate of adoption, bringing about a new era of healthcare. Insurers are seeing the benefits of Telemedicine, and some major providers are offering it as part of primary care plans. While the future of Telemedicine is certainly promising, existing concerns must be addressed around insurance policies and guidelines on what is covered. 

Some see telemedicine as a way to address the looming physician shortages, which is only expected to get worse. Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) suggests that the U.S. could experience a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, which would deal a significant blow to primary care access.

Patients that are in rural areas and who are most underserved will experience delays in accessing primary care due to the shortages. But, as it becomes more established, it can reduce the strain on physicians and emergency departments.

Patients will continue to adopt it for its quick access to care. Rapid advancements in technology are also expected to boost the demand for online consultations, thereby contributing to market growth.

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