As technology advances and the internet evolves, the field of telemedicine develops with it. This article will explain what telemedicine is and why it’s the fastest way to grow your health business.
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine was first developed as a method for treating patients in remote areas that don’t have access to nearby health facilities or healthcare professionals. Today, doctors can use technology to help access these patients.
Here is the modern definition of telemedicine according to Healthcare Weekly:
“The distribution of healthcare via video and audio channels, rather than the usual face-to-face interactions we usually expect from the healthcare system.”
Telemedicine is expected to help patients quicker than ever before, including treating minor and serious conditions. Health businesses that operate in the telemedicine industry offer around-the-clock care by employing on-call doctors and nurses.
It is fast becoming the best way to give medical practices an edge in the hyper-competitive industry that is healthcare.
One reason for this is the increasing demand for mobile access. There is an abundance of healthcare apps being released regularly on App Stores to track and monitor their health. This article by Digital Authority Partners shows that over 50% of all healthcare activity is being done on mobile devices.
It can be seen that as patients take more action themselves to get updates about their health, they will be open to different methods of getting care via telemedicine services.
Advantages Of Telemedicine
There are plenty of reasons why your healthcare business should get into the telemedicine space, such as:
- Better quality of care
- Cut down on spending
- Increased patient engagement
- Improved convenience
Better Quality Of Care
Telemedicine businesses can make it easier for healthcare professionals to check up on their patients in that they don’t need to travel to the practice to receive the care they need. From basic video calling to answer patient questions to using specialist equipment, telemedicine leads to better quality of patient care. A telemedicine startup, HelloAlvin, even allows patients to enroll in their service directly via text messages and then be connected directly with a doctor.
Furthermore, healthcare businesses that offer telemedicine systems are able to provide patients with specialist care faster than ever before. Doctors are able to bring in consultants to the various stages of diagnoses or treatments, giving the patient more precise and personalized care.
Cut Down On Spending
As you are probably aware, healthcare is an expensive industry. The US spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world.
Telemedicine has the ability to cut down on these costs because doctors can reduce their time dealing with non-serious issues. There are also state laws that cover the cost of telemedicine activities, further reducing the price of healthcare.
Increased Patient Engagement
The digital world allows patients to connect with the world like never before, creating an expectation across all industries, including healthcare, to adapt. Telemedicine can cater to this requirement by connecting patients with the appropriate professionals, increasing engagement and building stronger relationships that produce more efficient diagnoses and treatments.
Improved Convenience
According to Simon Stertzer, telemedicine has grown to become a predominant method to provide basic healthcare across the world. For example, both under-developed nations that don’t have access to healthcare facilities at all, and even the disabled that have difficulty getting to and from a medical practice, can now benefit due to this technology.
Telemedicine makes it far more convenient for all patients to receive the care they need and it is on the rise. In the US alone, there were approximately 30 million telehealth visits in 2017, compared to 22 million in 2016.
Examples Of Telemedicine Specialities
We mentioned above that telemedicine is a great way to get patients the specialist care that they need. Here are a few examples.
Teleradiology
This is one of the first uses of telemedicine and remains one of the most popular uses of the technology today. Teleradiology is the technique of providing specialists with x-rays. Healthcare providers send their patients’ x-rays to a radiologist at a different location, allowing for quicker results.
Teleoncology
This field has expanded a lot over the years. Teleoncology provides more accessible cancer treatments to patients. Examples of solutions include improved imagery results for diagnosing the condition and improving the communications between the patient and oncologist.
Teleophthalmology
Teleophthalmology solutions give eye doctors the ability to treat their patients at a distance. They are able to provide solutions to problems and infections while being able to refer them to a general practitioner if required.
Telerehabilitation
This allows healthcare professionals to provide rehab services to their patients remotely, including physical and mental therapy.
But it is not just limited to these four examples. There are many other fields that make the use of this great technology, allowing you to grow your healthcare business quickly.
Clinical Guidelines
Finally, let’s discuss the clinical guidelines around best practice.
When To Use
Use telemedicine to treat conditions such as back pain, breathing difficulties, mental illnesses, allergic reactions, rashes and diabetes. However, refrain from using telemedicine for diagnosing conditions that require proper examinations or in emergencies.
Informing The Patient
Explain how telemedicine works, including if you require help from other professionals, patient confidentiality, the limitations to working over the internet and, importantly, getting patient consent. In fact, in some states, consent is required by law.
Patient Evaluation
Refer to professional judgment to determine if telemedicine is the appropriate solution for that particular patient. This will include their previous medical history and access to their medical records.
Quality Assurance
All providers are required to conduct regular quality assurance checks to identify any risks associated with telemedicine care. This includes ensuring that all equipment is set up properly and there are issues with communications have been solved so they won’t be cut off midway through the consultation.
Summary
Telemedicine is the fastest way to grow a health business. From better quality of care to better patient engagement, there are many advantages to employing the technology. Through telemedicine, it won’t be long until you see your customer satisfaction increase as well as your bottom line.
This article comes from Codrin Arsene, CEO @ Digital Authority Partners