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Changing the way we deliver healthcare

TelemedicineChristine Lynch

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare via electronic services

Who is using Telemedicine

Patients like using telemedicine because it is more convenient for them. Telemedicine also makes it easier to have a regular checkup, especially for those who have a hard time getting out of bed or dressing themselves. It also can help the patient save on the cost of having an in home nurse to do these regular checkups.

Patients

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Doctors

tInsurance companies use telemedicine to process claims in a faster time. They also benefit from the cost efficiency in that the total amount of insurance payouts are less due to more accurate claims being submitted more quickly, which can lead to a more efficient processing the first time the claim is done.

Insurance companies

Doctors are finding telemedicine to be cost effiecient in multiple ways. Some of which are saving time on canceled appointments, having easier monitoring of remote patients, and by getting faster results on tests. Studies from UPMC Health plan done in 2012, show that facilities who use telemedicine programs have seen as much as a 160% return on all of their investments compared to facilities that do not use the program

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How it works

To you the patient.

This shows how healthcare can be brought to the patient versus the patient going to the healthcare facility. It also demonstrates how different medical devices can be monitored through the use of telemedicine capabilities.

Doctor

Medical site

Network

What are the benefits of Telemedicine?

Improved Healthcare Access

Brings convenience to both the health professional and the patient

Cost efficient

Ability to monitor patients from their home

Improved quality of healthcare

Multiple specialists can meet at one consultation for efficiency

Faster communication between medical sites and insurance companies

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Why Telemedicine is not more popular1

This is a common occurrence with today’s technology due to insufficient connections, weather, and remote locations. Also, computers are only as good as they are programmed to be, so it may experience glitches if a computer program or product is not installed properly. Usually electronic glitches will be experienced on the patient’s end as doctors will use the telemedicine network.

Electronic Glitches

There has been somewhat of a struggle to get physicians to realize the benefits that telemedicine can bring them. They have also rejected the costly venture to updating to telemedicine systems. Although, in more recent years this is piquing more doctors interest due to the ability to meet with chronically ill patients and being able to reach a wider base of patients in a faster time which gives them more business.

Physician resistance

Even though the use of telemedicine is a great way to provide faster care, it can also be underassessed by the patient and the doctor. In some cases certain non-verbal cues can be missed, and their is the possibility of misdiagnosing the patient since the health professional can not physically touch them. This will have to be taken into consideration when doing any video or phone consultation. Also, all systems need training, it can be hard for the specialist to understand how to relay the information back to the patient or to use the equipment to do the appointment. The patient would have to understand what buttons to press to activate the system on their side.

3 Inadequate assessment or training

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Is Telemedicine safe for me to use?

There are many human advocacy groups and not for profit agencies such as Affiliated workers association that conduct studies to ensure they are meeting the needs and upholding their medical duties. Most recently Affiliated workers association did a study and found that more than 70% of consultations can be completed over the phone and found that ones that have been done have been no less effective than those done in the office.

Human advocacy groups

Telemedicine practices are governed under the same guidelines as any healthcare facility. CMS also oversees and makes any requirements that need to be followed and makes sure doctors do not go outside of their practice. Doctors are still required to uphold their integrity and adhere to all privacy standards for EHRs regulated and mandated by HIPAA. Telemedicine is closely allied with HIT standards but differentiates in that they provide service and do not just deal with the medical records.

Federal Guidelines

Enhance and empower your office today!

http://www.americantelemed.org/about-telemedicine/what-is-telemedicine Association, The American Tele health, (2012)http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Delivery- Medicaid.Gov Results from a patient-centered Medical Home Pilot AT UPMC Health Plan Cynthia Napier Rosenberg, Pamela Peele, Donna Keyser, and Sandra McAnallen Health Affairs November 2012 31:112423-2431; doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2011.1002 Integrated Tele health and Care Management Program for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Disease linked to savings Laurence C. Baker, Scott J. Johnson, Dendy Macaulay, and Howard Birnbaum Health Affairs September 2011 30:91689-1697; doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0216`

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