Solutions
Premiere Telemedicine Services now, or will, include:
Video – Instant access to information, whether it’s about a certain patient or a certain topic, can be essential or even life-saving. Take the story of a rural doctor who, under dire circumstances, found himself as the only available person to perform an amputation. Although he had never completed this procedure before, he was guided through the process by an experienced surgeon through a video conferencing link. Although the patient did not have the time to reach a large trauma center, his life was saved.
Internet and video conferencing are now essential components within telemedicine and telehealth initiatives worldwide. Countless patients have successfully received expedited healthcare thanks to surgeons or doctors who, for example, were able to quickly communicate with a panel of specialists in order to receive critical information for a diagnosis, or to perform a procedure.
In particular, the advancement of IP-based videoconferencing has assisted in the growth of telemedicine and telehealth. The Association of Telehealth Service Providers (ATSP) states that, in the next 10 years, virtually all telehealth transmissions will occur using Internet Protocol, whether or not the transmissions happen over the Public Internet.
Secure Document Storage & Sharing – One component of telemedicine is the proliferation of electronic patient portals. The patient makes his or her medical records available to medical professionals through a secure, password-protected electronic database. The patient can also view their information, and make it available to multiple contacts as necessary, allowing for teamwork among medical professionals, and quicker diagnoses.
Physician Support – Rather than visiting a physician’s office, many patients enjoy the more convenient option of communicating with a doctor either online or on the phone. In some cases, a diagnosis can be made electronically, or if not, the physician will recommend that the patient consult a doctor in person. With regard to medications, many drugs prescriptions may be administered by a doctor after the patient takes part in a comprehensive phone consultation and/or provides a lengthy questionnaire. After the initial consultation with a physician, refills may be processed more quickly.
Home Telemedicine – Many telemedicine and telehealth success stories occur in the home. By utilizing a combination of the latest medical technology and devices, as well as the latest audio/video/monitoring technology, many healthcare providers are able to maintain consistent contact with patients who live with chronic diseases or need continuous monitoring. This can be done at a very substantial reduced cost, when compared to in-home visits, or visits to the physician’s office/hospital. Also, if problems arise or reoccur, early intervention can provide significant cost savings by avoiding or reducing emergency room visits and re-hospitalizations.
It's no secret that, as healthcare expenses escalate, healthcare providers continue to look for solutions to lower costs while at the same time maintaining quality of care and patient satisfaction. Healthcare systems are slowly beginning to realize that telemedicine provides the best solution for maximizing human and capital resources.
In fact telehealth technologies are now utilized in hundreds of programs nationwide. These include HMOs, integrated delivery systems, home health agencies, hospices and Veterans Administration medical facilities. Simply put, the increasing cost of healthcare, combined with the quality-of-care challenges that healthcare organizations face, continues to open the door for telemedicine – both inside and outside the home.