Doctors, Have You Ever Wanted To Set Up Your Own Practice Via Telehealth?
With rapid growth in advanced technologies that enable physicians to connect with and better serve their patients, many health care providers have successfully begun to incorporate at least some aspect of telehealth into their business model.
Telehealth involves the use of digital communications as a means to monitor patients, deliver treatment, and interact with other health care professionals at remote locations. A 2008 survey of 1,000 home care agencies revealed that one-third of them already utilize telehealth systems, with an expectation that over the next two years telehealth use would double.
The potential benefits of telehealth systems include substantially increased efficiency, reduced costs with fewer hospital stays and less staff, office space, and travel required, better management of chronic illnesses, more convenient access to specialist opinions, and the ability to reach more patients in less time across geographic barriers.
According to a Philips National Study on telehealth for home care, over 70% of agencies surveyed also reported significant increases in positive outcomes and patient satisfaction as a result of telehealth services. Many patients, especially the elderly, disabled, and those in rural locations, appreciate a physician effectively "making house calls" and saving them a trip that may be long or stressful in bad weather.
Types of telehealth equipment used can vary from a simple telephone and internet connection with a video camera and microphone to the incorporation of more complex video conferencing equipment and software depending on the types of services and levels of care that are needed.
The majority of home telehealth devices involve remote monitoring, such as heart and blood pressure monitors, fall alerts, weight scales, and medicine distribution units, which may automatically transmit electronic readings to the physician. They can then review this information, take action quickly if needed to better ensure the patient's safety, make changes to regimens, treat minor conditions, provide advice on care and prevention, answer questions, and use an integrated computer to track the patient's progress, all from a convenient location.
An increasing number of insurers are also recognizing the legitimacy, cost savings, and value to patients of incorporating telehealth into medical practices and are providing increased reimbursement. Even the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced they will cover more telehealth services beginning in 2011.
Overall, as healthcare costs rise and patients demand more options, physicians would be wise to take advantage of what telehealth systems have to offer both in terms of gaining a competitive advantage and being able to provide high-quality care to more patients regardless of their location.
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