Telehealth Accessibility: Improving Access to Telehealth

Two-way, live interaction between a patient and caregiver or provider. This can act as a substitute for in-person office visits for consultation, diagnostic, and treatment services.

Patients can use real-time telemedicine to consult the doctor, get advice, a referral, or a prescription. Video devices may include videoconferencing units, web cameras, computer monitors, tablets, and smartphones.

Using secure electronic communication systems, patients can send their health history, such as x-rays, photos, and pre-recorded videos, to their doctor. This way, the doctor can review the information and provide medical advice or treatment without the need for a live, face-to-face appointment.

Personal health and medical data can be collected electronically from a patient in one location and sent to the provider in a different location. This helps the provider follow the person’s healthcare data after discharge to a home or a care facility.

Mhealth refers to patient engagement, education, and public health programs that are offered through mobile communication devices like cell phones, tablets, and PDAs. Apps include text messages that encourage healthy behavior, alerts about disease outbreaks, and apps to help in self-diagnosing illness.

Telemedicine makes it easier for patients to get certain types of care when they need it, instead of needing to travel to an office or waiting for an appointment. Still, different approaches are necessary for certain health problems. Chest pain, persistent fever, or continual belly pain should never be handled through telemedicine. However, telemedicine can provide immediate help until the person can get to a facility.

The demand for telemedicine has increased because it allows people to stay in their homes or communities while they receive care. Traveling to a hospital may be more uncomfortable and painful for patients while they recover. Also, being in a supportive, familiar environment may foster a quicker recovery.

People in rural or suburban settings might not have the resources they need to travel to a healthcare provider. For patients in an urban environment, even public transportation can be time-consuming and difficult. Less mobile and older patients might also not have anyone who can take them to clinics. In these ways, telemedicine can help a person feel more independent.

The use of telemedicine improves the quality of care patients receive by increasing the collaboration and productivity of medical staff. Evidence shows that using telemedicine results in fewer follow-up visits, which makes it more cost-effective.

Telemedicine reduces the cost of healthcare and increases efficiency through better management of chronic diseases. It also reduces hospital expenses by providing remote access to specialists that rural hospitals can’t usually attract.

There are benefits to the providers too. Telemedicine increases the collaboration between providers. For those serving in a rural environment, this reduces the isolation. It brings numerous specialties together, which allow providers to continue their education and training through collaboration.

The main barrier for telemedicine is access to reliable broadband or satellite. Live video requires high-speed, high-quality connections on all devices. These electronics make it possible for doctors to keep in contact with their patients through video and apps that send vital information and results.

Telemedicine regulations and reimbursements are different from state to state but there has been an increase in the number of states that offer reimbursements for telemedicine services to providers.

The impact of telemedicine on safety has been studied less and has raised some concerns because without the ability to actually physically touch a patient, the physician is limited in the care they can provide. But telemedicine is meant to complement existing methods of healthcare, not replace them. It won’t replace in-person visits, only expand the care providers are able to give.

Telemedicine observes all HIPAA laws. These laws are meant to prevent private or secure medical information from being leaked. But there is no guarantee that routine data transmissions from a medical device or app won’t be shared with third-party advertisers or others.

Different states have different licensing regulations. This can become a challenge for many telemedicine providers. Although basically all doctors must be licensed in the state where they physically practice, some states require that they also must have a license in the state where the patient is located.

This is an essential element of healthcare. Through the expansion of telehealth, services that aren’t easily available to people in certain geographical areas can become available. Also, telehealth can make it possible for doctors and patients to work together smoothly, particularly for people with chronic conditions.

Along with primary care, telehealth can be expanded by improving general surgery patient care. During the pandemic, the technologies of telehealth have become an important way to deliver healthcare for pre-operative and post-operative consultations, as well as educational sessions in surgical care and teleconferences.

Telehealth is a convenient and safe option to get mental health care at home. An individual can attend appointments without needing transportation, taking time off work, or arranging for childcare.