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Telemedicine

Myths: The Highly Human Touch of Telemedicine 

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By Andrew Barbash, M.D.

Is the emergence of doctor consultations via video chat further evidence of the depersonalization of medicine, as some would argue? As a mainstream care model, telemedicine provides a combination of quality and convenience, is widely available, and often reimbursed. However, telemedicine continues to be plagued by an image problem founded on myths and untruths.  

All medicine and healing —whether the physician is physically in the room or on video— is based on one fundamental principle: trust. Patients want a doctor who understands their health history, is knowledgeable and is going to make them better. This dynamic becomes ever more critical in an acute setting where health concerns are generally escalated and sometimes life or death. And while in-hospital telemedicine has become a widely accepted method of providing access to specialty doctors, several myths continue to perpetuate telemedicine’s perceived lack of personal connection. Let us break down the most common of these myths.  

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Is Telemedicine Regulation Catching Up with Remote Drug Needs?

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By Clint Watts

Over the past few years, the healthcare regulatory complex has been working to support innovation and electronic integration while addressing public concerns like the opioid epidemic. During this same period, Telemedicine has emerged with the potential to fundamentally change the way patients and providers interact. Though they may disagree as to the answer, regulators, enforcement agents, and telemedicine providers are now united in asking how to best prescribe and manage controlled substances remotely. 

The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (the “Act”) was one of the first attempts to adapt substance control to the digital age. Congress passed the Act to amend the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act and “prevent the illegal distribution and dispensing of controlled substances by means of the internet.” It did so by setting forth a number of requirements that restricted the operation of internet pharmacies and remote treatment programs. Among these, a prescribing provider was required to conduct in-person medical evaluations or otherwise meet one of very few narrow exceptions. Under the Act, “[t]he term in-person medical evaluation means a medical evaluation that is conducted with the patient in the physical presence of the practitioner….” 

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Telehealth: Bringing Value to Your PT Practice Beyond Patient Visits

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By Michael J. Gassman

I don’t have time. It’s too expensive. I don’t have a doctor’s referral.

If you’re a physical therapist or a primary care physician who has recommended physical therapy (PT) to patients, you’re likely familiar with these excuses and misperceptions.

One in two adults are affected by a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition, which includes trauma, back pain and arthritis, costing an estimated $213 billion in annual treatment, care and lost wages. Yet, as many as 70 percent of patients fail to adhere to their PT treatment recommendations.

The reasons why vary. Non-compliance with exercises between clinic visits may lead to frustration with the effectiveness of their PT’s regimen. Some patients require more consistent encouragement between visits, or changes in insurance policies may influence their out-of-pocket costs. So, how can physical therapists bridge this divide? [Read more…] about Telehealth: Bringing Value to Your PT Practice Beyond Patient Visits

Behavioral Telehealth: Exploring New Opportunities for Providers and Patients

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By Charles Hutchinson

Behavioral telehealth is one of the fastest-growing domains of virtual care, and also one of the most important.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one in five individuals has some sort of mental health condition. Even more alarming is the rising rate of mental health issues among our country’s youngest citizens. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has noted that 13 percent of children between the ages of 8 and 15 experience a severe mental disorder in a given year.

The growing number of people needing mental healthcare underscores the grave importance of improving access to care for these patients. Fortunately, telehealth makes it possible for thousands of patients with limited access to care to still receive ongoing mental health treatment.

However, many physicians and behavioral healthcare providers are still hesitant about adopting or recommending telebehavioral health for a couple of reasons. First, they’re uncertain of how telehealth can help organizations drive value and improve outcomes. Second, and related, they’re uncertain about the reimbursements tied to virtual-care services. [Read more…] about Behavioral Telehealth: Exploring New Opportunities for Providers and Patients

Understanding the Thriving World of Telemedicine

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Getting to the out-patient waiting lounge unwell and realizing there is a long queue ahead of you is a familiar feeling that perhaps most of the world’s population shares. It is for that reason and others that the adoption of telemedicine is gaining traction. It gives medical practitioners the ability to evaluate a patient based on symptoms, diagnose and treat them, all without the need of seeing them in person. It sounds like a dream come true for many you’ve spent hours on end in hospitals as they are shuffled around various waiting rooms.

Telemedicine is not entirely a new phenomenal; what changed was the mediums with which it took place. Telephones and telegraphs allowed for these events to take place at the turn of the century though it was restricted to those with the means. Three types of telemedicine exist: interactive, patient monitoring and store-and-forward.

In the interactive format, doctors and patients engage in real-time conversations through approved Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act regulations video conferencing software and via telephone. Here, the patient is at their home. With remote patient monitoring (or telemonitoring) the doctor monitors patients with chronic diseases in their homes. Here, mobile medical devices collect relevant data that can be shared with and reviewed by the physician. Store-and-forward (asynchronous) takes place among doctors as they would when referring a case. [Read more…] about Understanding the Thriving World of Telemedicine

Beyond the Big Three – What’s Next for Hospital-Based Telemedicine?

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Hai Tran is COO/CFO of SOC TelemedBy Hai Tran

The simplest way to define telemedicine is the delivery of remote healthcare services using technology. It’s no mystery that telemedicine has enabled hospital systems to advance access to care, deliver measurable patient outcomes, and optimize organizational efficiencies.

Specifically, telemedicine platforms have allowed patients and providers alike access to specialty physicians they may otherwise never have. Services such as teleNeurology, telePsychiatry, and teleICU are becoming a common part of the patient care continuum. Driven by physician shortages, geographical barriers, and financial obstacles, telemedicine is now everywhere.

This begs the question: What other challenges can telemedicine help overcome for hospitals, providers and even patients? [Read more…] about Beyond the Big Three – What’s Next for Hospital-Based Telemedicine?