Pros And Cons Of Telehealth

Most respondents discussed physician buy-in as a key facilitator for telehealth services. Respondents suggested several reasons why primary care providers are likely to support the use of telehealth and refer their patients. For example, physicians—who are familiar with or have working relationships with the telehealth providers, and who believe that high-quality care will be provided—are more likely to refer their patients. Similarly, increased physician accessibility to services (e.g. round-the-clock access

Health information exchange or HIE allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers and patients to access vital medical information. It also allows them to share medical information securely and electronically. HIE improves the speed, quality, safety, and the cost of patient care.For many years patient's files were stored using paper methods, transferring them by mail, fax or transferred it by hand to every appointment. Changing to electronic file improves the completeness of patient's medical records. It makes decision making of healthcare providers avoid readmissions, avoid medication errors, improve diagnosis, and decreases the amount of times test are reordered. There are other benefits to health information exchange

Health Information Management (HIM) is the process of protecting, analyzing, inspecting and acquiring medical information such as health records, each time a patient is seen by a healthcare provider. The HIM professional is an important connection between doctors, nurses, patients, insurance companies and everyone in the medical field. Every time a healthcare professional sees and treats a patient, they record what they observed, how the patient was treated medically, and future steps in the treatment plan discussed between the patient and the healthcare worker. The medical record includes the patient’s symptoms, medical history that includes past, present, and family history, results of studies, such as x-ray reports, or lab results, diagnosis,

Improved communication technologies have increased demand/supply of better healthcare, such as through telehealth. Telehealth is defined as the use of electronic technology (i.e. computers and mobile devices) and digital information to provide healthcare and telecommunication at a distance, which means that the 'receiver ' is not physically present with the 'sender ' (MayoClinic, 2014). Telehealth is able to provide and expand health and medical help and give advantages, as well as reduce limitations, to the current health system. Three types of current and proposed telehealth application types are education, counselling, and homecare (Hebda & Czar, 2013).

Electronic health record (EHR) system transformed the health care system from a paper based industry to one that uses clinical information to provide higher quality of care to the patients by providers. Electronic medical records have many benefits in clinical, organizational and societal outcomes. Clinical outcomes includes improvements in the quality of care and reduction of medical errors. Organizational outcomes include, financial and operational performance as well as higher satisfaction among patients and clinicians. Societal outcomes include, conduct research and attain improved population health. Adoption of EHR can improve quality and reduce the cost. Patient information is readily available on EHR and is accessible by any providers

Demonstrate effective use of technology to navigate the electronic health record, communicate with inter/intraprofessional teams, and be involved with decision making in the delivery of quality and safe patient care. (Ivy Tech Community College, 2016).

With the uberization of healthcare and telehealth we often feel overwhelmed by the push for telehealth. As independent advisors, Ingenium Telehealth Consultants will work with you to determine which services will be successful, appropriate and the best way to integrate technology into the care delivery processes.

IOM: Nurses should be leaders and partners with physicians and health care professionals. Nurses work first hand with most of the material that is wasted in the health care setting, they would be able to identify needed changes, and be able to track progress much easier and effectively than other health care providers.

Telehealth offers real-time communication where a patient consults with a physician or where a nurse practitioner consults with a specialist through a link. In such cases, the patient can access primary care without going to the clinic. Reaching patients at home saves not only travel times and related practitioners and patients expenses but also improves patient survival as well as recovery.

The respondents represented a variety of professional positions, including Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Executive Directors, other hospital administrators, and physicians, including primary care providers and specialists. Respondents reported between 10–30 years of experience working in health care. Time in their current positions ranged from 6 months to approximately 10 years. All respondents, with the exception of one, reported they were currently involved in some form of telehealth service delivery. This involvement included developing and/or administering telehealth programs, as well as serving as advocates and/or telehealth service provider. Most respondents reported that telehealth services had been offered in their regions for approximately 5 years, with some stating services had been offered approximately 7 years, and others reporting 2–3 years. The most commonly reported telemedicine services were tele-psychiatry and tele-cardiology, followed by telestroke and teledermatology. Exhibit 2 provides an overview of respondents’ affiliations and respective

You made a great point with telehealth and telecare. Sanders et al. (2012) identified telehealth and telecare interventions for improving quality and cost-effectiveness of care for people with long term complex health and social care needs. Patients who use this innovative change in care delivery have an increase in autonomy. There is the convenience as you emphasized due to decrease in unnecessary travel. However, according to a study by Sanders et al. (2012), some patients are reluctant to take part in this service due to many misconceptions such as technical competency to operate equipment, identity threats, independence and self-care; expectations and experiences of disruption to services. In time and with teachings much of this misconceptions may be diminish thus enhance usage.

There are several ways that technology is transforming health care. Empowering patients to manage their condition leads to better disease outcome and reduction of hospital visits; hence, reduce health care cost nationwide.

Some of the main issues that are important for the organization of telemedicine in regards to time and scope are the problems associated with coverage and reimbursement. With so many options for payment and coverage for telehealth services in both private and public sectors and their policies have still remained barriers for telemedicine. Even with more substantial changes in Medicare coverage, the state remains the final word on policy and determines what they think is telemedicine, what technologies can be used, where and how telehealth can be performed and what services and providers are eligible by the government for reimbursement.

When a person suffers from a stroke, there is limited time frame to provide lifesaving interventions to that individual. The recommended door-to-needle time for a patient in need of tissue Plasminogen activator (tPA) administration, for treatment of an ischemic stroke, is one hour. Within this time period, the affected individual must be brought into the Emergency Department (ED) from the ambulance and registered. They are then required to have a full set of vitals taken, as well as a CNS assessment done by the Registered Nurse and ED Physician. Blood work is then taken and while the patient is sent to CT scan, the blood is processed. Once the CT is completed the patient is then assessed by the neurologist. The patient can then receive the

Studies also showed that individuals that live in rural settings, and have disabilities have access issues. These factors result in lower use of health care services and poorer health for these individuals. In contrast, other studies show that implementation of a telemedicine program provide patients opportunity for access to care and improve their experience of care. Studies of telemedicine show reduced cost of care that result in time savings for both the patient and health care providers.