TeleHealth - You don't need to go to Doctor anymore!!!

Well…don’t take my blog title in a literal sense. We definitely need doctors around more than ever. It is just the way we can access their healthcare services that is changing. TeleHealth is a new paradigm in the Healthcare industry.  The current health service model is very expensive, time consuming, and ineffective. TeleHealth will transform the way medicine is currently practiced.

What is TeleHealth?

It is the delivery of healthcare services and clinical information to remote locations. TeleHealth is an FDA approved, HIPPA compliance platform that interactively connects patients with a nationwide network of licensed doctors 24/7 using Internet, Internet of Things (IoT), Video chats, Smartphones and Electronic Medical Record clouds. In 21^st century, TeleHealth is an hour-in-need solution.  

The lists of services provided under TeleHealth are:

TeleMedicine: Providing a professional consultation to a patient in a remote location or assisting a primary care physician in rendering a diagnosis. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), 78% of emergency care could be handled efficiently using TeleMedicine.

TeleMonitoring: Collecting patient data using IoT (Wearable Devices) and sending the data to a healthcare monitoring agency for remote testing and diagnosis. TeleMonitoring services also includes personalized alerts that inform a patient’s healthcare provider in times of physical/mental trauma.

TeleSurgery: Enabling the surgeon to perform an operation on a patient from a distant location using Remote Robotics technology.

Remote Medical Education: Providing medical education to the health care service community and targeted groups from a geographically different location.

TeleHealthData Service: Share specialized health information with other Health service providers, the education industry, research firms, and the government agencies etc.

Advantages of TeleHealth services are:

• Immediate medical attention especially during times of medical emergency and natural disasters
• No need for waiting in long queues to see a physician
• Eliminate the need to physically go to a medical facility. TeleHealth reduces the distance barriers
• Reduced documentation and paperwork
• Cost effective – The growth in TeleHealth space will extensively reduce insurance premiums and potentially reduce the time a patient has to be away from work
• Equal and comprehensive healthcare provisions to everyone by eliminating geographical barriers
• Better communication- Communication to the primary care doctor and specialist happens at the same time because everyone is virtually present in the same room during diagnosis
• Expanded reach to various health service providers

How it works?

The patient first schedules an appointment online with their licensed doctor through the health service provider. They then interact with the doctor using Tele communication services like a video chat. The doctor accesses, reviews, and interprets the patient’s medical files and diagnoses the problem. They also answer any questions the patient may have and then, issues a prescription.

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) says that Consumers need TeleMedicine services and that this is more of a necessity than an accessory tool. The greatest impact of TeleMedicine is on the patient, their family and their community. Over the past 15 years, multiple studies have documented patient satisfaction and support for TeleMedical services. Such services offer patients the access to providers that might not be available otherwise, as well as medical services but at the same time, eliminating the need for physically being available at the physician’s location. Studies have also shown that the quality of healthcare services delivered via TeleMedicine is as good, if not better than those given through traditional in-person consultations. In some specialties, particularly in mental health and ICU care, TeleMedicine helps deliver a superior product, with more successful outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.

For a comprehensive note on TeleMedicine solution standards and guidelines, please refer the ATA standards and guidelines.

Please stay tuned to my blog and keep checking for detailed article about each of the TeleHealth services.

Cheers,

Venkat Alagarsamy