Telemedicine has been around for years. What we recognize as telemedicine today started in the 1950’s when a few hospital systems and university medical centers started to try to find ways to share information and images via telephone. since then, its primary use has been for people who lived in rural areas and didn’t have access to physicians or clinics. But it has recently grown in popularity and is spreading to beyond just rural areas.
Before we delve into why telemedicine has grown and what options are available to individuals, let’s take a step back and answer the question, “What is telemedicine?”
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication technology to offer treatment and diagnosis services to individuals from afar. The telecommunication could be as simple as a telephone, but has become increasingly more sophisticated. Now-a-days telemedicine often looks like a Skype or FaceTime call where the physician is communicating with the patient via a video call. This can be through a phone or tablet and allows the physician and the patient to see face-to-face. This allows the physician to observe physical injuries and conduct a medical consultation from afar.
Why is Telemedicine Growing?
The biggest factor of the increase in telemedicine has to be the growth in our technology infrastructure and devices. More Americans have high speed internet that allows for high quality video streaming. Smartphones are ubiquitous and speaking to a doctor has become as easy as pulling up an app. These advances in technology have made telemedicine not just more available, but more effective for patients.
A major benefit that telemedicine offers patients is time. Going to the doctor is a time-consuming task that can be unpleasant. Taking time off work, driving to the doctor’s office, waiting in the waiting room, the actual visit, then the drive home. It can be a three hour ordeal for some. That’s too much time to “waste” on a doctor’s appointment. Telemedicine allows patients, like those physically unable to travel or parents with children, the option to save the hassle of travel.
Another big advantage of telemedicine is the cost. It’s more cost efficient than regular doctor visits. Not only with the travel you’re saving on, but the actual cost of the consultation, which tend to be lower than if you were seen in-person.
By 2017, it’s estimated that 71% of healthcare employers will offer video consults through health plans.
In summary, telemedicine has the following benefits for patients:
-Less time away from work
-No travel expenses or time
-Less interference with child or elder care responsibilities
-Privacy
-No exposure to other potentially contagious patients
What are the Drawbacks?
Not everyone is on board with telemedicine. There are drawbacks that cause people (both patients and medical professionals) to hesitate to get on board with telemedicine.
One is technology glitches. As great as technology has become, it can still have inconvenient glitches. Things like poor video quality can cause trouble with communication. Technology problems can be as simple as either party not being able to properly use a particular app for communication. Especially with older patients (who might get a lot of value from telemedicine). Older patients might not know how to use the technology properly.
Another big drawback to telemedicine is that many ailments aren’t as simple as they may appear. This can cause inaccurate diagnoses or generally less than adequate care. There’s a lot to be said for taking the time to physically check up on a patient.
Dr. William Gluckman states, “If you have a stomach ache I want to be able to feel your abdomen, if you have a runny nose I’d like to use my stethoscope and listen to your lungs.”
Therefor the technology isn’t meant to solve everything or replace in-person visits to your doctor. It can serve as a great tool for followup appointments and other general consultation only style appointments. This way you save time and convenience while still getting access to your doctor. So, if the technology is available to you then it may prove to be a valuable addition to your healthcare.
Best Applications
There are few instances to how telemedicine can be best applied. Here are a few examples of how it is being applied today.
Follow-up visits
Using health apps for routine follow-up visits is more efficient for providers and patients, and it also increases the likelihood of follow-up. This reduces missed appointments and improve patient outcomes
Remote chronic disease management
The increasing rate of chronic disease is a major challenge for our healthcare system. Chronic conditions require regular consultations with physicians, nutritionists, and others. Therefor It is a prime candidate for the use of telemedicine software because it makes it easier and less expensive for patients to maintain control over their health.
Remote post-hospitalization care
One telehealth program for patients with congestive heart failure reduced 30-day hospital readmissions by 73 percent and six-month readmissions by 50 percent. For those just leaving the hospital, it can be difficult to move, get transportation, and wait for long periods in the office. Especially if they are bedridden or weak and still healing. Telemedicine allows the patient to still see their primary doctor to follow-up without having to leave their bed.
Preventative care support
Weight loss and smoking cessation are the keys to reducing heart disease and a host of other conditions. Telemedicine has been valuable in connecting providers with patients to make sure they get the support they need to be successful.
School based telehealth
When children become ill at school, they might visit a school nurse or be picked up by their parents and taken to an urgent care center. Some school districts have teamed up with doctors to provide remote visits from the school. The provider can assess the urgency and seriousness of the situationion and provide instructions or peace-of-mind to parents.
Assisted living center support
Telemedicine software has already proven to be useful in keeping residence of assisted living facilities out of the hospital. Problems will often occur at night or on weekends. This makes hospitalization the only option, even for less urgent problems. With telemedicine, on-call doctors can conduct a remote visit to determine if hospitalization is necessary and save time, resources, and money for all involved.
Where Can I Get Telemedicine Care?
Options for telemedicine are abundant. Your current primary physician might even offer telemedicine options. Be sure to check with your insurance. Many plans now offer telemedicine free as part of your policy. If you are on Medicare then you can find coverage through many Medicare Advantage plans in your area. If your plan doesn’t provide coverage and you’re still interesting in having access to telemedicine then here are seven telemedicine companies you can look into if you’d like to investigate more options.
The world of healthcare is rapidly evolving. We’re living in an era where healthcare is starting to really tap into technological advances. It’s an exciting time for sure. There is no golden rule as to who is a good candidate for telemedicine, it’s a case-by-case basis. But if you are considering it, please do your own individual research to make sure it’s the best choice for you.
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