Category Archives: Telemedicine

The “Doc Fix” Bill is poised to help the telemedicine and telehealth sectors. Telemedicine is just one of the beneficiaries of the changes that have been introduced by the nicknamed “doc fix” bill, which has the formal title of the Medicare Access to CHIP Reauthorization Act. The bill was passed in Congress on the 15th of April in 2015 and then President Obama signed it into law on the following day. The bill introduces a number of changes regarding the methodologies of reimbursement and financing of US health care, which includes a shift from the common fee-for-service model and moving toward accountable care organizations, payments based on risk and a stronger focus on providing quality and population health.

The organizations that currently utilize telehealth have recognized that these new models for payment are perfectly suited for the increased care management, quality and access that are offered by the technologies of telemedicine. The Act has been a signal to health care providers that when these methods of care are embraced – telehealth and telemedicine – they will be positioning themselves in a way to utilize the latest payment options.

However, this Act has also included a number of specific provisions that benefit remote patient monitoring, specifically for Medicare. Essentially, it states that payment for telehealth services is not being provided by Medicare even if it was not offered previously.

The Act includes a number of provisions that are intended to help and promote innovation and exceptional care delivery by allowing various health care providers to purchase and use the powerful technologies and telemedicine tools that are now available on the market. This is a vision that is related to the prior surveys taken in health care executive leadership. However, when these providers work to continue developing their telemedicine programs and pursue the new payment options, the leaders are displaying that they understand that the smartest option is to wait for the law to get up to speed – since it will.

In the advent of telemedicine and telehealth services, most people are still not sure about which particular illnesses require the attention of an online doctor and which ones require an actual physical visit to the physician. American Well doctors can treat you for numerous health issues online, but there are certain conditions that are most preferred for this method of treatment. These conditions include:

1. Sinus Infection

This condition is one of those that can be effectively treated by an online doctor. Patients with this illness will exhibit symptoms such as allergies, a severe cold and teeth and face pain. These discomforts indicate that you have a sinus infection that is the most common disease that our doctors at American Well treat. The tricky part is determining whether the condition is bacterial or viral. If it is bacterial, you will need antibiotics to control it. Nevertheless, you will still need the opinion of an experienced physician to ascertain what exactly the cause is.

2. Common Cold

This condition is known as an upper respiratory infection in the medical term, but it is just a common cold to most people. Despite the fact that it is common, and most people can self-prescribe the medication, it is still crucial to consult an online doctor and find out whether there is another underlying serious condition. The doctor will also verify whether the home treatment you are taking is the appropriate for the condition.

3. Bronchitis

The symptoms of this condition exhibit themselves through a persistent cough. Apparently, bronchitis is quite common and mostly occurs if a person has a cold or suffers from other respiratory infection. Notably also, most people do not treat this condition properly at home that makes it worse and difficult to treat once they seek a doctor’s attention. Patients are supposed to consult a doctor so that they can prescribe for you an antibiotic in case the condition was triggered by a bacterial infection or an inhaler if it is more severe. That way, you will be on the safe side.

4. Urinary Tract Infection

Those who have suffered from a Urinary Tract Infection before are aware of how painful and unsettling it can make you feel. Research shows that a person who has had one of these infections before is highly susceptible to getting it again in the future. Therefore, you should seek medical attention urgently and begin a specialized antibiotics treatment so that you can get cured quickly.

5. Sore Throat

A medical term for this condition is pharyngitis. This common illness could either be triggered by a virus such as a flu or and it could also be as a result of a strep throat. To get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment, you will need the input of a qualified doctor.

6. Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye

The most common symptom of this condition is getting discolored eyeballs. A severe case of conjunctivitis can make you value your bright eyes more as they will turn to an unusual pink color hence the name pink eye. This condition can affect anybody, but it is most common among children. It can also be easily transmitted to other healthy people which is why you should contact the doctors immediately and start undertaking treatment.

7. Upset Stomach

An upset stomach can restrict your movements and detain you at home whether it has been occasioned by food poisoning, norovirus or gastritis. It is only a doctor who can diagnose the exact cause of the ailment and prescribe for you the right medication. Regardless of the cause of your symptoms, however, it is crucial that you stay hydrated.

8. Flu

When you miss getting your routine flu vaccine, you have a high risk of falling sick when the season comes. Flu infections intensify from around October until the end of spring. However, people can still get the flu at any other time in the course of the year. Since flu is usually diagnosed according to one’s symptoms and their exposure to the causative virus, the best method to use while treating the condition is by telemedicine. That way, there will be a minimized risk of spreading it to other patients in the hospital, as well as the doctor.

9. Allergies

The typical symptoms of allergies or hay fever or allergic rhinitis as it is also known are sniffling and sneezing. It can be necessary to see a doctor because of your allergies if it is the first time you are experiencing them, if they are worsening or if they are interfering with your productivity at work.

10. Skin Wound or Rash

Regardless of the cause for a skin wound or an unsightly rash, self-diagnosing it can be a challenge. There can be confusion as to whether the symptoms are as a result of an ongoing healing process or a new infection. A doctor will be in a better position to recommend an appropriate treatment for you if they see the rash or wound.

Telemedicine is a new twist on the old-fashioned house call. Physicians like it because they can ‘see’ their patients to make a better diagnosis than they can over the phone. As for the patients, they like being able to stay home instead of battling to get to an office across town or hours away.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Kansas City has begun to utilize telemedicine to treat vets from their own home. With the help of nearly 2,000 mobile care centers, doctors from tens of miles away can conduct a physical exam with the help of remote connections for stethoscopes and other medical tools and see the results on a screen in front of them. Specially trained techs or nurses travel out in the field to perform simple procedures or tests that at one time necessitated the need for travel to a VA office and often a night at a hotel.

The cost associated with telemedicine is steep, $50,000 for each mobile medical cart, but those who support the technology-driven idea feel that investing this much is more than worth it for its convenience and peace of mind. In addition, telemedicine saves the Veterans Affairs Medical group that much in the cost of transportation and lodging for VA patients who have to come to the medical center.

The benefits of telemedicine make it one of the most important innovations of the 21st century. In a way it takes the field of medicine back to its roots where doctors traveled across the country with their medicine bags in tow, stopping in small towns and offering medical treatment to people who otherwise would never see a doctor. In a world that is moving too quickly to take the time out for doctor’s appointments, telemedicine can mean catching an illness or disease early enough to treat with a favorable prognosis.

In the technologically advanced world of today, nearly everything is being done online. One of the final frontiers to be conquered by online communication is medicine. The telemedicine revolution is in full effect and many people are starting to see the benefits it brings with it. Telemedicine refers to any patient/doctor interaction which takes place via video or text messaging. This technology is being used to do everything from schedule appointments to diagnosis aliments. Here are a few of the many benefits you can gain when using telemedicine.

More Information

For most doctors using this technology, the biggest benefit is the additional information it can give them when making a diagnosis. A doctor can only tell so much about a patient’s condition when talking on the phone to a patient. By having video chat capabilities, a doctor is able to look at the patient to obtain the information they need to make a diagnosis.

Remote Consultations Can Be Life-Saving

By being able to video chat with a physician, you will be able to know how serious your ailments are. In some cases, this technology can save lives.

Cost Effective Care

Another reason why telemedicine is so beneficial is the cost effectiveness. For people without Obamacare, finding treatments will low price tags is important.

Early Diagnosis

One of the best ways to beat a condition or ailment is catching and treating it early. With the use of telemedicine, you will be able to get this diagnosis from the comfort of your home.

Reduce Negative Reactions

When prescribing a patient a new treatment, the doctor will be able to check in as the treatments begin. This will help them to see warning signs faster if a change is needed.

Better Patient Coordination

For most office managers, using secure texting is a great way to coordinate appointments and keep things organized.

Great for Rural Patients

For customers who live in rural areas, getting access to quick healthcare can be quite an undertaking. With the use of telemedicine, these individuals are able to get the care they need when they need it.

More Timely Treatments

Another major benefit of telemedicine is the timely treatments it facilitates. By the use of this technology, patients are able to get fast care, which helps to increase their quality of life.

Help For First Responders

The use of telemedicine has even extended into the world of first responders where it is used to provide real-time treatment until the professionals arrive. This has saved many lives and is just another example of the power of telemedicine.

Enhance Senior Wellness

Many doctors started using this type of technology to care for the elderly. By having a direct link to the senior, the doctor will be able to spot problems and address them quickly.

With all of the many benefits which come with the use of telemedicine, it is easy to see why it has become so popular.

With the advent of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, many things have changed. One of those changes may be the number of primary and specialty care physicians available. While these changes may cause some disruption in traditional medicine, they are also likely to help advance more efficient methods. Telemedicine, or telehealth is one of the most effective of these modern techniques.

Telemedicine Is Remote Assistance

Telemedicine is physician assistance from afar. With modern technology, people are talking to one another on a nearly constant basis. Video chats have become routine in offices and between friends. Telemedicine takes advantage of this technology, allowing physicians, technicians and nurses to communicate without the hassle and time required in commuting from one place to another. Physicians can eliminate some of their costly travel from office to office or from home to office. Video chatting and remote monitoring are quickly eliminating unnecessary trips.

Safer, More Efficient Health Care Through Telemedicine

Often, a patient with a simple illness can be treated without ever seeing the doctor. Valuable time that used to be wasted driving to the doctor’s office can be retained simply with a telehealth checkup. Patients do not necessarily need to sit in a physicians office, exposing themselves to the myriad of diseases and illnesses that other patients have brought with them. Patients also do not need to expose others unnecessarily. Telemedicine is the modern, safe and efficient alternative to old-fashioned house calls.

As the overall number of primary and specialty physicians continues to decline with the changes Obamacare has ushered in, the time each doctor has available will also decline. Modernizing the industry of health care is essential to meet these challenges. Telemedicine is a proven technique to reduce unnecessary travel, cut costs and eliminate safety challenges connected with office visits. The future of medicine certainly lies in a physician’s ability to reach as many patients as possible, while providing accurate diagnoses and advise. Telemedicine is the answer.

In a recent Supreme Court decision, the Federal Trade Commission voted 6-3 against in a case versus the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners (NCBD). The ruling, which determined that medical boards consisting of private professionals are not immune to federal anti-trust laws. The board in question had been sending cease-and-desist letters to non-dentists providing teeth whitening services, often at a lower cost than treatments offered in dental clinics. This attempted regulation of who can enter a given industry directly violates the Sherman anti-trust laws that prevents anti-competitive practices between companies and organizations.

What does a court case on teeth whitening mean for telemedicine? Taken at face value, the ruling does not have any direct effect on telemedical professionals currently working in the field . However, this sets an important precedent for potential cases in the future: one of the biggest obstacles facing telemedicine practice are state licensing boards comprised of medical professionals, many who feel threatened by increased use of telemedicine as an option for treatment. With the NCBD case ruling, this sets an example for future legal battles between state licensing boards and telemedical providers. It may be that telemedical companies can use this as a legal precedent to sue licensing boards that place unfair restrictions upon their practices, and lead many to end up settling rather than pursuing litigation.

Overall, telemedicine is still a relatively new field with a bright, but uncertain future. However, with important decisions like the teeth whitening case being made in the Supreme Court, the legal pathway is being paved for young, rising companies to defend their practices. With the age of Obamacare, telemedicine pioneers such as Teladoc have even been able to join forces with leading health insurances providers to offer coverage for virtual doctor’s appointments. While medical professionals already working in the field have few reasons to worry about their practices, telemedicine is becoming a more sensible and easily-accesible option for patients, has gained a strong foothold in the world of modern healthcare.

Telemedicine is the employment of information technology and telecommunication for the primary role of providing medical care. It entails conveying of medical information over the internet or phone with the objective of providing consulting and in some instances for the remote checkup of patients or medical procedures.

The complexity of telehealth can differ from a normal telephone call with a medical expert to using video-conferencing for real-time evaluation of medical treatment options between the expert and a patient.

The handiness of telehealth is almost inestimable in some cases. In effect, studies relating to Emergency Room visits articulate that approximately 70% are uncalled for. Many of them can be treated with just a simple phone call. Thus, the truth is that telemedicine may well be a truly feasible solution. Without having to leave their homes patients can acquire quality health care provided by fully licensed physicians.

What do patients opt for telemedicine?
For patients residing in unreachable and remote areas, telehealth is a big blessing. These patients can get health care from specialist physicians who are miles away without having to travel. It also reduces and saves the time spent when a patient physically visits the doctor. The current increase in portable communication gadgets such as mobiles phones and tablets allow doctors to provide information and patient records in order to receive their inputs. The need to distantly access patient information in addition to monitoring the patient treatment diary can give medical experts the liberty to offer improved healthcare at a reduced rates. Also, telemedicine aids to ease the transfer of knowledge between experts practicing in the same area of specialization.

The bottom line of telemedicine

In spite of this, the promise that telehealth brings with it is beyond compare. It creates new avenues in health care management and provides hope of better cure for those patients who would in different circumstances fail to get even the most fundamental medical care.

Thus, in conclusion, it is not hard to believe that telehealth will soon be just another alternative to visiting a doctor, and chatting with them on the internet or on the phone will be an ordinary thing

Elizabeth Holmes, CEO of Theranos, Supports HB 2645 Arizona Telemedicine Lab Test Law

House Bill 2645 would revolutionize medical lab testing in the state of Arizona. Elizabeth Holmes, the CEO of Theranos, and the company that provides tests to 40 Walgreen’s clinics in Arizona, supports the bill.

House Bill 2645 would allow Arizona residents to receive expanded access to laboratory testing without a doctor’s order. The bill is currently before the Arizona Legislature. The bill is sponsored by Representative Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek. The current Arizona laws regarding lab testing allow consumers to get a limited number of tests, like cholesterol screening and blood glucose checks from licensed labs. Bill 2645 would give consumers the option of receiving any test a lab would sell.

Theranos sells test to clinics in Arizona, mostly in the Phoenix area. The company’s automated technology is often quicker and less expensive than traditional labs used by most doctor’s offices. Theranos and Holmes goal is to rapidly advance tests and testing in retail clinics.

Additionally, Theranos publishes all lab test fees, whereas typical medical labs have varying fees, depending upon their negotiated rates agreed to with the insurance companies. Often consumers without insurance forgo necessary lab tests because they don’t have the exorbitant fees that labs charge for the tests. Holmes is a staunch supporter of House Bill 2645 and believes that expanded testing options would allow more people, especially low-income people, to take charge of their healthcare and receive the proper tests to make informed decisions.

As Holmes stated in an interview with The Arizona Republic, “It’s a basic human right for people to get access to laboratory data in a time that matters,” of myriad tests used to diagnose or predict disease.

“Inherently, we’ve got a system which is by law saying you can only get these tests done at a cost that is affordable once you already have the disease,” Holmes said. “And if they are not symptomatic, insurance won’t pay for it. So people have to pay out of pocket, and paying out of pocket is insanely expensive.”

Holmes’ viewpoint is that the medical industry is geared toward treating people after they have been diagnosed with a chronic condition. However, a consumer with a family history of certain diseases wants preventative testing to insure they don’t have the disease is often denied by the insurance company and the labs fees exceed affordability.

HB 2645, passed the Arizona House without a single “no” vote. The bill is now assigned to the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services and Rules committees. Currently, Arizona law allows consumers direct access to 11 categories of testing, such as lipid profiles for cholesterol checks, glucose, urine tests, prostate-specific antigen, urine pregnancy tests, and others. However, these tests are not enough; this is where HB 2645 would eliminate the need for a doctor’s recommendation for the tests.

The legislation would not require a doctor or other licensed medical professional to review or act on medical tests that a consumer orders directly from a lab. Insurance companies and the state’s Medicaid program, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, would not be required to pay for direct-to-consumer tests.

Holmes said, “Theranos typically charges 50 to 90 percent less than what Medicare pays for similar tests.” She also stated that HB 2645 could save “hundreds of millions of dollars” in Arizona health costs.

At Secure Medical, our professionals urge everyone to familiarize themselves with House Bill 2645 and add their support for this revolutionary bill that will support Arizona consumers

Physicians are taking more precaution when treating influenza H3N2 patients nowadays. They are doing that by using the telemedicine method when diagnosing patients that involve talking to them over the telephone or on computers. The reason for this technique of diagnosing patients is that the disease is highly infectious and lethal. Doctors fear that if those patients were to come to the clinic for tests and diagnosis, they might infect the ailing patients in the medical facility.

Doctors then recommend the most suitable treatment such as antiviral drugs through the telemedicine method after establishing that the patients have the H3N2 flu. They also advise the patient to send someone to the chemist for medication instead of going there themselves. That is to avoid spreading the contagious disease to other people that they may come in contact with at the drug store or on the way there. The patients should stay at home and exercise caution by washing hands regularly and disposing of used tissue paper carefully. They should also cover their mouths while sneezing and be extra careful around children.

The disease is also known to affect people differently depending on their ages. It is most prevalent among children due to their poor immunity. Doctors have also discovered that about 90% of adults who display symptoms of the disease usually end up testing positive for the infection. Additionally, some tests show negative results whereas the patients are suffering from the disease. That has made physicians rule out the need for carrying out a test. As a result, that has made the telemedicine method more common for diagnosing this type of disease. However, giving children a routine check-up for the disease is advisable since they tend to harbor large quantities of the deadly virus in the bodies that might take some time before they develop symptoms.

The benefits of the practice are that it saves patients the cost of undergoing unnecessary tests, and the costly visits to the doctor. It also prevents carriers of the virus from passing them to other people especially those who are ill. People with diseases such as asthma and diabetes are prone to contracting the H3N2 flu if they are exposed to it. That shows that telemedicine if an effective method of containing the spread of the H3N2 flu and other influenza strains.

The best way to prevent one from contracting the disease is by getting the seasonal vaccination. The vaccines can protect the recipient from certain strains of the illness such as H1N1 flu, H3N2 flu, and strain B.

Telemedicine has taken a monumental step towards changing the healthcare landscape for many psychiatric patients in need, specifically adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Defined as, “the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status,” by the American Telemedicine Association, this healthcare practice includes a variety of applications and typically incorporates the use of email, webcams, smart phones and other wireless technology as a means of sharing medical information quickly and effectively.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, telemedicine is regarded as an effective approach towards the treatment of patients living in remote areas or patients who struggle with transportation issues. The recently conducted study found conclusively that adolescents, previously diagnosed with ADHD, who received six sessions with psychiatrists through video-conference in addition to in-person behavior training, showed an increase in measurable improvement when compared to the group that did not receive the video-conference therapy.

This information is important to consider, especially given the substantial shortage of psychiatrists in the U.S. Addressing the concerns of underserved populations who do not have adequate access to psychiatric healthcare has long been a hot topic and telemedicine is providing a plausible solution that may realistically be developed throughout many other areas of medical care.

The study was well received by families, who are relieved that a convenient and effective method of treatment is now available to their children. Researchers also believe that the effectiveness of this method of medical practice has significant implications for rural patients and that the practice has potential of expanding into other areas of medicine as well, especially as technology continues to advance and offer increasingly effective methods of telecommunicating. What does this new standard of practice mean for patients? Quite simply, telemedicine will provide timely, effective diagnosis and treatment to patients currently unable to seek treatment in a conventional manner.