Telemedicine is a medical service and technology that allows patients to receive treatment from specialists that are located remotely. It can also provide health education, social support, and medication adherence services.
Healthcare systems implementing telemedicine solutions will tell you that getting up and running takes time and resources. However, the benefits should be worth the initial investment as more patients can be treated with less staff.
How it works
Telemedicine services and solutions provider led by the CEO at TapestryHealth, Mark Hirschhorn, works by allowing healthcare professionals to conduct video or phone consultations with patients remotely. It helps improve the patient’s experience and increases patient retention.
It also allows physicians to have a more flexible work schedule and provide their patients with medical care whenever needed. It is beneficial for patients with a hard time leaving their homes or those with chronic conditions preventing them from visiting the doctor.
The most common type of telemedicine is remote monitoring, which uses biosensors to collect health data from patients at home and transmit it to medical professionals for further analysis and treatment. As a result, it reduces costs and increases patient satisfaction.
Other types of telemedicine include real-time interactive services and store-and-forward. Private payers do not always reimburse these types of telemedicine, but some states have enacted telemedicine parity laws. These laws require private payers to pay the same rates for telemedicine as in-person visits.
Symptoms
Often, a patient will call their doctor to discuss an illness or to get a diagnosis. In the past, this would have meant a trip to a doctor’s office or clinic. With telemedicine, patients can see their doctor from the comfort of their home or office.
The health benefits of telemedicine are many and varied. For one, it improves access to health care by allowing individuals living in rural areas or those with transportation challenges to get the same medical advice as their more mobile counterparts.
Likewise, telemedicine is an essential tool for healthcare organizations to use to stay competitive and help their patients reach their full potential. Therefore, healthcare organizations should do homework to ensure their telemedicine offerings are the best. It includes determining what type of technology is appropriate for their specific practice and knowing how laws vary regarding telemedicine services.
Treatments
Telemedicine offers patients various treatments to help them deal with their health issues. These services can include prescriptions, follow-up visits, and preventive care.
For many, telemedicine is a convenient alternative to seeing their doctor in person for non-urgent issues. It’s also much less expensive than a trip to the emergency room or urgent care center.
Often, doctors use telemedicine to see patients in remote locations who can’t easily visit their doctor or get to an appointment. It helps them treat more patients while reducing travel and medical costs.
Several states have telemedicine parity laws, which require private payers to reimburse telehealth at the same rate as in-person services. It is an essential step toward ensuring that the benefits of telemedicine are widely available.
Preventive care
A significant goal of preventive care is to detect and treat illnesses early before they become more serious medical problems. In addition, it can save money and improve your health.
Preventive services include things you’ve probably already heard of, like annual physicals, immunizations, and screenings. They may also involve counseling and management of medical issues.
Your healthcare provider can aid you in deciding which tests and shots are proper for you based on age, gender, and other factors. They can also suggest ways to make healthy habits more accessible and fun.
Under the Affordable Care Act, private insurance plans must now cover evidence-based preventive services without charging a copay, deductible, or coinsurance. The new policy, the Prevention and Public Health Service Act (PPHSA) was created to reduce costs and improve the quality of care for millions of Americans.