The Future of Telemedicine is Here!

Technology is changing the medical scene, and it is happening fast. Various remarkable telehealth trends continue to promote effective care coordination and patient involvement. These services have also made it easier for patients to adjust to the new norm of virtual meetings and remote operations without undermining the quality of services. It is interesting to see that more stakeholders are taking it a notch higher to add to the transformation of the health sector through telehealth services. For example, predictions indicate that the FDA will likely allow more self-test products. Additionally, the regulatory bodies incorporate virtual site visits and invest in more robust quality systems to contribute to the ongoing trends.

Significant Trends in Digital Health care.

There is certainly plenty of digital solutions to look forward to regarding telehealth. Integrating AI, machine learning, and sophisticated security features have contributed considerably to the rise in numbers. The revenue stream has changed the language into things we did not see a few years back. Some notable contributions of technology include

  • Digital Self- service

The selling point of telehealth remains in its accessibility to both patients and doctors. The development of innovative medical devices and applications such as smart watches, blood glucose monitors, and fitness trackers provide feed databases with helpful information for improved patient care. Also, innovations like the digital twins help keep track of vital information and promote quality healthcare by supporting decision-making.

  • In Silico medicine

Treatment testing on animals and humans may soon be a thing of the past thanks to in silico computational models and simulations. This technology empowers researchers to evaluate and improve new devices in various clinical environments within a shorter time while ensuring safety.

  • AI, Cloud, and IoT infrastructures

AI, Cloud, and IoT-based infrastructures are not new to other industries. Although creeping in conservatively, these principles are expected to bring new possibilities. For example, AI models could help achieve the extremes, such as delivering feedback from the brain to restore lost body functions such as touch for paralyzed persons. We can see a quality restoration from connecting medical devices via the Cloud to having your data everywhere.

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. Telemedicine may not have been a new concept in the medical field before the onset of Covid-19, but it has undoubtedly revolutionized operations in various field sectors. However, the pandemic only jump-started a faster drive into the future through these telehealth solutions.

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth healthcare is administered through technology. This connects patients and health providers without the need for face-to-face appointments. Telehealth can be used in various ways, including video conferencing, emailing medical records, or using an app to make appointments.

How Telehealth Services Reduces ER Visits For The Disabled.

Telehealth services reduce ER visits for the disabled by allowing them to get medical care without going to an in-person appointment.

One of the most significant benefits of telehealth services is that they can help reduce emergency room visits for the disabled. Telehealth services give doctors and nurses a way to communicate quickly with patients, which means they can offer healthcare more timely. This can help prevent ER visits and reduce wait times in the ER when needed.

Telehealth services are increasingly used to treat patients with disabilities, and the results are promising. The most common reason people visit emergency rooms is acute illness or injury. Statistics show that the disabled are especially likely to frequent emergency department and hospital visits. Telehealth services are catching up in providing health care consultation to these individuals in an affordable manner.

It can be challenging for disabled people to get the care they need. The most common reason disabled people visit the emergency room is that they need to gain access to the necessary maintenance at specific times.

Telehealth services are changing all of that. By allowing patients to connect with specialists remotely, telehealth will enable patients who otherwise might have to wait hours in the ER or be admitted for a hospital stay to receive quick and effective care from their homes.

This means fewer visits to ERs, which means less congestion and less wait time for everyone else.

study by Columbia University found that telehealth services can reduce ER visits by an average of 6%. This is because when patients have access to telehealth, their doctor can prescribe the necessary medication without meeting the patient in person.

It is also an excellent way for disabled people who live in remote areas or in rural communities where doctors are hard to come by to get easy access to healthcare without having to travel long distances.

Conclusion.

The effects of telehealth services on ER visits for the disabled are mainly positive. The study shows that in areas where telehealth is more prevalent, there is a lower rate of emergency room visits for the disabled, which means fewer hospital stays and lower costs.

This multi-billion industry is improving service delivery to bridge the gap between hospitals and homes. There are many reasons for this trend:

  1. Telehealth improves care access, especially for rural and underserved patients.
  2. It can help reduce costs by reducing the need for unnecessary office visits and hospitalizations.
  3. Providing more convenient and flexible care can improve patient engagement and satisfaction.

So what can we expect from telehealth in 2023? Here are three shifts to watch out for:

Increased Use of AI and Machine Learning

As telehealth technology becomes more sophisticated, we can expect more artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to support care delivery. For example, AI can automatically schedule appointments, track patient progress, and provide reminders for medication adherence. Machine learning can predict patient outcomes and identify early warning signs of disease.

More Focus On Chronic Disease Management

Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and COPD account for most healthcare costs in the US. Telehealth can be crucial in managing these conditions by providing regular check-ins with patients, monitoring vital signs, and providing education and support. We can expect to see more telehealth programs focused on chronic disease management in 2023

Greater Integration with Electronic Health Records

One of the challenges of telehealth has been the lack of integration with existing electronic health records. This is slowly changing, and we expect greater EHR integration in 2023. This will make it easier for care providers to access patient data, schedule appointments, and coordinate care. Also, patients can view their health information from any device, making tracking progress and managing their health more accessible.

Telehealth is revolutionizing the healthcare industry and changing how we think about care delivery. These three shifts will help make telehealth more accessible, effective, and efficient in the years to come. Workers in the industry also stand to benefit from efficiency gains and improved job satisfaction. But most importantly, they will improve the quality of care for patients across the country.

Telehealth For Maternal/Prenatal Health Services

Telehealth visits are a great way to improve prenatal and maternal care.

Telehealth is a term that describes the delivery of health care services using technology, such as video chat or online consultations. Telehealth can improve access to care, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors have delivered service to their patient’s thanks to telehealthcare. Furthermore, pregnant patients are more likely to die from COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. More severe forms of COVID-19, pre-term birth, and transmission of COVID-19 to newborns are all complications associated with a COVID-19 disease during pregnancy.

Telehealthcare has become more common in hospitals in the past few years. In addition to being less expensive than in-person visits, telemedicine can help patients with trouble traveling or mobility issues. One study showed that telemedicine visits are associated with higher quality care than face-to-face visits. A recent study found that most patients were more satisfied with their care when they received telemedical services than face-to-face visits.

Telehealth visits are becoming more and more popular as a way to improve prenatal and maternal care. Using telehealth visits by pregnant women is beneficial in many ways. For example, Telehealth can help reduce patient anxiety by accessing information through remote communication with their doctor. It also gives them time to gather information on their own and then discuss it with their doctor. Additionally, Telehealth can help improve the quality of prenatal care since doctors can provide more personal attention to their patients during these visits.

According to the researchers, Telehealth could be a viable strategy for improving maternity care delivery, increasing patient satisfaction, and reducing health disparities.

Cardiovascular diseases are some of the most prevalent conditions among patients globally. The leading cause of this health crisis is obesity and sedentary living. Patients do not appreciate the significance of maintaining a healthy weight by staying active and engaging in workout routines. Telehealth is a potential technology whose implementation can assist in weight management to reduce cardiovascular complications among patients.

The Role of Telehealth in Weight Loss

The rise of technology and its applications in various industries, including healthcare, has created an opportunity for care providers to provide medical intervention to patients virtually. Telehealth is a technological healthcare advancement that involves virtually passing knowledge between clients and clinicians. Telehealth is an excellent innovation providing efficiency and convenience while managing chronic illnesses like obesity and cardiovascular complications.

How Does Telehealth Work?

Patients with weight problems can discuss their concerns with a physician electronically. An initial face-to-face consultation is preferable but not necessary. Patients should consult their concerns with a physician through social media. An initial consultation helps the physician develop an appropriate treatment plan.

The main benefit of implementing electronic health records through telehealth is physicians’ faster access to patient information. Patients undergoing weight management treatments may leverage wearable devices and wireless scales to help their physician to track their vitals virtually. This system also provides convenience to patients by eliminating the need for transport costs allowing them to receive treatment from the comfort of their homes.

Electronic health records are a crucial element necessary for health care transformation. Patients with chronic illness require close interaction with their physicians to appreciate how their condition is progressing. Telehealth offers an alternative option to regular clinic visits. This innovation eliminates the need for physical face-to-face meetings.

Telehealth can have a tremendous impact in reducing the cardiovascular health crisis affecting most patients. However, a lack of awareness affects the scalability of this healthcare strategy. Patient and staff education should involve the significance of telehealth to enhance the implementation of the healthcare practice.

Telehealth is an area of healthcare that promises significant improvement in patient outcomes and efficiencies. Further research in the area will give insights into challenges affecting the scalability of this healthcare system. Health care institutions should appreciate the significance of further study in the field.

The demand for telehealth by phone and video has soared recently due to health technology advancement, use, and network accessibility. However, obstacles such as cost, inability to access remote areas, the limited number of addiction care providers, the emergence of a pandemic limiting mobility, etc., can bar Opioid addicted patients’ from receiving adequate treatment. Fortunately, the use of telehealth by phone and video has surpassed all odds, and its use will allow the Opioid addicted patients to receive good healthcare services effectively. But, wondering how telehealth can help those suffering from Opioid addiction? 

Telehealth has led to an increase in virtual visits with addiction care providers

Telehealth by phone and video allows many patients suffering from Opioid addiction to continue with their medication to support their recovery. Currently, everyone has phone access which people with opioid disorder who have no access to a computer or high-speed internet or often lack stable housing can use to make audio visits. Additionally, through telehealth, the addiction care provider can easily and remotely monitor the opioid patients’ progress without actual visits.

Telehealth enables flexibility and convenience for addiction care providers

Telehealth through phone and video visits provides flexibility in addiction care services by making it easier to keep opioid patients engaged in care over time. Opioid-addicted people can risk overdosing. Thus, policy strategies that make it easy to stick to addiction care can significantly impact telehealth, and telehealth is a viable option. Additionally, addiction care providers can serve more patients using flexible online appointments and audio visits, especially for patients who can’t travel to treatment facilities. Some pandemics, such as the Covid-19 outbreak, hinder mobility and physical contact. Thus, telehealth will break this barrier, allowing opioid patients to continue receiving the best care from addiction care providers.

Telehealth enables addiction care providers to explore ways to outreach opioid patients

Over the past years, addiction care facilities have focused on opioid patients seeking treatment and are already in the door. However, substance addiction, a very isolating disease, is a condition that makes it hard for people to seek treatment. Therefore, using telehealth by phone and video will enable addiction care providers to explore more ways of outreaching opioid patients to offer them an effective treatment for better recovery.

The Bottom Line

Having read the above article, you have realized that telehealth by phone and video will play a crucial part in treating opioid addiction. The proper use of telehealth by telephone and video can lead to an increase in opioid addiction virtual care visits, allows opioid care providers to become more flexible, and enhance opioid care providers to explore more ways to outreach opioid patients so that they can offer treatment effectively. Therefore, implementing the guidance to increase the funding for mobile apps and assistive telehealth services will enhance telehealth usage by phone and video in providing effective opioid care.

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth refers to using digital communication and information tools to offer and receive medical attention from a distance. Examples of technology include mobile gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. A healthcare provider could offer telehealth services from a clinic or mobile van.

Impacts Of Telehealth and At-home Testing

It is interesting how the health industry has revolutionized over the past couple of years. All this is thanks to the advancement of technology and people embracing the modern ways of offering and receiving healthcare services digitally.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, it challenged healthcare providers to find alternative ways of administering their services to patients without getting in contact with them. One of the significant impacts is meeting a new generation’s demands. Telehealth tools, as well as At-home testing, are being embraced in everyday life. Telehealth solutions and digital health companies are rising at a fast rate.

Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a constant rise in the use of telemedicine. Both the doctors and patients report positive feedback using telehealth services. According to a statistic by the American Medical Association, more than 78 percent of patients were happy with the telehealth services. Below is a list of the immediate impacts of telehealth:

  • Make it simpler for those who reside in rural or isolated places to access health care.
  • If you have an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, keep yourself and others safe.
  • Make services more accessible or convenient for those with restricted mobility, time, or transportation.
  • Provide primary care for a variety of ailments.
  • Enhance communication and care coordination between the medical staff and the patient.

Telemedicine has grown increasingly prevalent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological advancements, particularly communication technology, have made virtual care possible. Medical professionals can now conduct diagnoses and offer treatments to patients through a screen. The medical industry is torn in half, with one half claiming in-person care while the other half exalts the benefits of telemedicine. Administrative burdens and employee burnout have led many medical professionals to seek alternatives to help them and their patients. Could telemedicine be the solution to medical staff burnout and shortages? Let us find out:

Staff Burnout

Most medical professionals work six-hour shifts, taking up two or three changes. The medical industry has the most overworked employees because the average person’s workday is only eight hours. Working twelve or eighteen hours a day, six or seven days a week, could lead to burnout. Many medical professionals say they have lost passion for their work and would like to work elsewhere. With telemedicine, medical staff can have more freedom as they do not have to go to the hospital to meet patients. The team can adapt patient sessions to suit their lifestyle, allowing them a better work-life balance that reduces burnout.

Staff Shortages

Medical facilities have been in dire straits since the pandemic. The shortages are causing employees to work more, leading to burnout which causes employees to quit creating an even more significant need in an increasingly growing negative cycle. With more staff wanting to leave their jobs, staff shortage will be worse in the future. Telemedicine could help many medical professionals work at their convenience, allowing them to treat patients properly. It also attracts people to the industry, which can help address staff shortages.

Medical professionals often suffer from burnout which leads to and is caused by staff shortages. Telemedicine is a solution worth considering to address medical staff burnout and shortages.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, many patients were forced not to visit the hospital for treatment. The lockdowns and fear of the infection prompted digital technologies to keep hospitals up and to run. These advanced technologies enable doctors to monitor their patient’s health through digital solutions. So, what is remote patient monitoring?

What is Remote Patient Monitoring?

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a healthcare delivery technique that utilizes advanced technology to collect patient data. It is a type of telehealth used in the physiologic monitoring of patients’ health. RPM taps into cutting-edge technology to enable communication between clinicians and their patients.

RPM is efficient and effective and has an increasing adoption rate. According to research performed in 2020, about 23.4 million patients in the United States use RPM tools and services. It’s predicted that by 2024, these tools and services will reach 30 million American patients.

What Can Remote Patient Monitoring Devices be Used For?

Healthcare providers are now able to monitor their patients’ health status remotely. RPM tools like smartwatches and spirometers measure and monitor diverse clinical variables. They send the collected patient data to the healthcare provider. Also, these devices send alerts to the doctor if the values are out of range. Some of the clinical variables include:

  • Blood sugar levels
  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Weight
  • Infertility

Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring

There are several benefits associated with the use of RPM tools and services. They include:

  • RPM tools and services decrease emergencies by helping prevent life-threatening conditions.
  • With RPM, patients receive high-quality care as facilities aren’t too busy.
  • Another advantage of RPM is that patients are more engaged since they understand more about their health.
  • With RPM, there’s the prevention of the spread of both infectious diseases and hospital-acquired diseases.
  • The easy-to-use RPM tools help patients improve their care plan and self-management adherence.
  • RPM tools and services enable patients to improve their productivity at work since they avoid inconveniences and expenses associated with visiting the hospital.
  • RPM helps lighten the pressure of over-scheduled in-person visits by allowing doctors to provide the needed care virtually.

Introduction

Drastic innovation is the central theme of healthcare technologies. Telehealth solutions have been around for some years but came to their best use during the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advancements in healthcare technology have brought about the use of:

• Digital tools
• Telehealth
• Electronic medical records
• Artificial intelligence

To transform our healthcare services and make them more efficient. Some of the beneficial uses of telehealth are:

• To the providers, you get the opportunity to reduce no-show rates and service more patients
• To the patients, you get an increase in care accessibility and a cut back on traveling and wait time
• To the payer, you get a cut back on the cost of transport and also low costs due to receipts for more timely care.

Telehealth and electronic medical records

This is a stepping stone to the evolution of healthcare. It is game-changing for professionals and patients for communication and access to care. Telehealth will extend beyond episodic treatment into chronic illness management and maintenance. Electronic medical records can be used to record data centrally in an online location, which helps keep track of individual health trends and more accurate care. This allows patients with greater access and convenient maintenance.

Digital tools

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us the necessity of real-time, error-free data and the benefits of a healthcare system capable of displaying data without delays. Digital tools help in;

• accessing and analyzing data
• making critical forecasts
The usage of a digital tool like;
• Blockchain technology
• Artificial intelligence
• Big data analysis
• Quantum computing

Can assist in acquiring valuable insights to making real-time decisions.

Shortcomings

Telehealth is a fast-growing form of technology that might not flourish as expected cause of some barriers like;

• Variation in billing and reimbursement rates
• Limited and inconsistent interstate license of healthcare providers
• Access to information for telehealth practitioners from far-off hospitals.

Conclusion

Telehealth is something that our governments and health facilities should embrace and help advance to create a good environment in health care and help save lives.