Telemedicine seems to be the biggest development within the digital health this year. Skip Fleshman, Partner at Asset Management Ventures (AVM), put in plenty of time talking to the top healthcare providers and the insurers regarding their technology requirements. He found that the telemedicine is the most interesting area for both providers and the insurers. Hospitals, extending telemedicine services is an approach to cut costs when offering consumers with the benefits and the convenience they desire. According to Andrew Watson, CMD of Telemedicine in University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Telemedicine is evolving very speedily. We are capable of doing a lot more than what we used to do in the past, he added. Faster Internet connections along with much better software, enable much better video chatting than in the past. Through widely used mobile devices, many people are now able to gain access to consultations from anyplace. As well as the introduction of electronic health records (EHRs) has probably improved the convenience of getting digital.
Telemedicine has enhanced to feature asynchronous messaging, through which patients are more and more at ease using it and also enables doctors to use their time in a better way. A doctor now is able to advise many patients in regular issues, freeing up much more time to give attention to in-person on more difficult or complex cases. During the last couple of years, progressively more number of patients have turned to retail pharmacies within their areas for regular healthcare services as that is easier as compared to see their doctor and will certainly not need to leave their houses in any way.
Initially, it appeared that this convenience might attract largely to the younger patients, who supposed to have the ability to access facilities online, it certainly does. However the community where it has the most impact is probably to the older group. According to Dr. Steve Ommen, Associate Dean in the Center for Connected Care in the Mayo Clinic, older patients to get enthusiastic in adopting the facility. The fastest raising group to social media certainly is the above 60 years group. They are certainly not technology-averse in addition they experience the greatest mobility concern as to going to a doctor. A telemedicine solution might be what exactly they need, he added. According to the provider’s point of view, telemedicine has got the potential to save lot of money and has ability to increasing the value of a doctor’s time. Nowadays, doctors devote considerable time with patients who don’t have to be at the office, added Dr. Ommen.
Hospitals when implement telemedicine, it can help in keeping consumers involved to their primary care providers and include to their present medical record. Like, Carolinas HealthCare System in recent times rolled out one virtual visit program which allows any one of their 1 million eligible patients to gain access to a provider anytime with a one-time fee. Whereas the provider to the virtual consultation can observe the patient’s medical record as well as their notes could be accessed from the primary care physician and the care team. Dr. Greg Weidner, MD of primary care innovation and proactive health as Carolinas, mentioned that, they are able to afford to offer convenience and efficiency, even though not compromising on any of the advantages of carefully coordinated care.
According to the providers, their main challenge in telemedicine is finding out the ways to cover the cost. But also as they are being paid for the outcomes instead of procedures, they are incentivized to offer care at the most effective way possible and also telemedicine is less expensive compared to in-person care. Skip Fleshman, appreciates the startups such as Doctors on Demand and the HealthTap, telemedicine has already been accessible to consumers across the country. He pointed out that someday, providers might partner with such platforms in order to connect their doctors to patients. And also, such apps can be provided by the organizations or insurance firms in reducing costs or even help improve the quality of care. In reality the potential in telemedicine is noticed long back, but now he believes that it’s going to take hold. People are enthusiastic about the service and also the providers ultimately get both financial incentive as well as the technological ability to turn it into a reality. He concluded expressing that not only he has an interest in this particular trend, but he is expecting that it’s going to change the relationship of doctor-patient.
At Mindfire Solutions, we have been providing custom healthcare software development services to our esteemed clients for more than 11 years now. Our healthcare team can help you with development of custom EMR, HER, PMS and CPOE development to name a few, or we can customize your existing products as per requirements. Please feel free to write to us in case of any custom healthcare needs and we will revert back in one business day. You can also avail our limited period Risk-Free Trial offer.
HealthCare Development Tips 