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The inequities in our current healthcare system are daunting. With so many different hurdles to jump through, solutions seem like a distant dream. Time, money, and convenience play a large role in if people seek out medical care in the first place. Without preventative care, many patients develop more serious medical situations which further hurt their financial situation and physical well being. Coronavirus may have finally changed that.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth, sometimes referred to as telemedicine, is simply an umbrella term to define any way to remotely access healthcare through telecommunications technology. This can include health education, diagnosis, treatment, and management. As the internet continues to be further integrated into our lives, telehealth developed as a convenient way for rural patients, disabilied patients, or anyone with limited transportation to still seek medical care.
How has the pandemic changed telehealth?
Many hospitals and health care facilities have been completely overwhelmed trying to follow CDC guidelines while simultaneously treating their already existing patients, and caring for the new patients the COVID-19 virus has brought in. Telehealth has allowed for high-risk patients to avoid exposure and has limited the amount of necessary in person doctor’s appointments. This can save people transportation cost, time, and even childcare costs that may be needed for an in-person appointment. Telehealth has been around for years, but there has been hesitation and pushback on policies and investing in the technologies necessary to perform telehealth. Coronavirus has increased the pressure on policies to be passed, which they have.
With the new temporary policies put into place due to the pandemic, providers have an increased amount of flexibility on what they can do. Some of the policies include being able to prescribe controlled substances virtually, and reduce or wave cost-sharing obligations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has also made it easier for patients enrolled in Medicare to utilize telehealth. Some of these changes include HIPAA flexibility to allow for video chats, allowing for practicing across state lines, and an expansion of telehealth services covered. Many providers and stakeholders are calling for these measures to be extended or put in place permanently.
What does this mean for the future of healthcare?
The saying “the sky’s the limit” comes to mind when talking about the possibilities telehealth opens. Telehealth is developing at a rapid rate and we need the policies to allow for that. As it further develops, it will become widely utilized and easy to learn. In the future, it may help with preventative care, by allowing doctors to remotely monitor symptoms or vitals. This can change the lives of patients with chronic illnesses and it could be the key to giving patients a semblance of freedom and control over their own health.
Works Cited
“About Telehealth.” Thumbnail, www.cchpca.org/about/about-telehealth.
Amadeo, Kimberly. “Preventive Care: How It Lowers Healthcare Costs in America.” The Balance, www.thebalance.com/preventive-care-how-it-lowers-aca-costs-3306074.
“Fact Sheet MEDICARE TELEMEDICINE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FACT SHEET.” CMS, www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet.
Holland, Makenzie. “Pandemic Helps to Change Telehealth Policy — Slowly.” SearchHealthIT, TechTarget, 1 July 2020, searchhealthit.techtarget.com/feature/Pandemic-helps-to-change-telehealth-policy-slowly.
“How to Get or Provide Remote Health Care.” Telehealth.HHS.gov: How to Get or Provide Remote Health Care, telehealth.hhs.gov/.
“Managing Your Health in the Age of Wi-Fi.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 15 May 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878.
Secretary, HHS Office of the, and Office for Civil Rights (OCR). “HIPAA for Professionals.” HHS.gov, US Department of Health and Human Services, 16 June 2017, www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/index.html.
“Telehealth: AHA.” American Hospital Association, www.aha.org/telehealth.
Obviously, telehealth is going to be a huge part of medicine in the future, even after the conclusion of this pandemic. However, I have several questions about telehealth and problems that it could pose. My first question is how will insurance coverage treat telehealth? Will health insurance cover the cost or will it be out of pocket? How will competition in the public market affect the success of individual telehealth companies? Which companies have currently jumped on this opportunity in order to get a head start in the telehealth industry?
I really respond to your optimism over the benefits of Telehealth! Although Telehealth has been around for a while, it has recently raised debates, as many new technologies do, since it has seen a large spark in usage during the pandemic. Personally, I think this increased flexibility given to doctors, and the increased amount of people they have been able to reach as a result, demonstrates that the U.S. is capable of offering widespread, affordable healthcare, especially when the health conditions are minor and can be treated remotely. Despite concerns about its security, I think Telehealth could really go a long way in increasing access to affordable healthcare and should be invested in even once the pandemic has ended.
I definitely agree that this is just the beginning of Telehealth but there are still some questions that I have that I think should be considered for Telehealth with its current offerings. One of them being, what kind of companies are offering this service, is every medical office in the country offering Telehealth or just larger companies at the moment? Another one question I have is about the complexity and need for the visit. You mentioned that Telehealth can help high risk patients from coming into the hospitals but where is the line for when the patient needs to come in for a visit versus what can be done through Telehealth. The answer to this question I personally believe would change overtime with more developments come into play.
With Telemedicine how do you believe the limitations can be solved when applied to developing countries especially with the Covid crisis?
With telemedicine, you listed out in your article how its possible this could solve issues such as COVID. However, when it comes to it, as a result, how do you introduce something as telemedicine in developing countries. There could be issues of lack of internet, getting to remote areas, and then upkeep of such advanced technology. With telehealth is any other method besides face to face computers that can help vulnerable areas because while an area may have the info for treatment, they may not have the resources.
Finally, we know tech can solve problems but then cause more problems in terms of security how secure is telehealth.
Telehealth certainly has the potential to change healthcare as we know it, but I think there are a number of issues and shortcomings that need to be addressed first. For instance, access to technology is still a barrier to education and employment for many in the United States; with heavier reliance on telehealth, that lack of access now extends to healthcare.
Additionally, putting aside the fact that there will always be a need for in-person health services, there are also a lot of common, basic screenings and tests that cannot be done at home, thereby negating any cost or time-saving benefits of the virtual visit. Examples that come to mind include bloodwork, listening to the heart and breath sounds, and even blood pressure (if the patient does not own their own monitor). In short, while I think telehealth can be useful for things like follow-up visits or prescription renewals that do not necessarily require exams or tests, I think expecting or wanting to rely on it to truly diagnose and/or treat patients is unrealistic.
I really enjoyed your point in encouraging telehealth, but also how you explained it. The formatting and descriptions made it easier to follow along, especially since I didn’t know a lot about this. I was wondering why this hasn’t been put into action before COVID? Is it due to HIPPA concerns considering privacy or the amount of funding it would take? If established, you clearly showed how this would make thousands of people’s lives easier. Could there be significant drawbacks to this? Specifically, the opioid epidemic was made significantly worse by doctors over-prescribing oxycontin. Since you mentioned that there’s been policy proposals to allow prescriptions to be made online, could there be another spike in opioid overdoses? Yet, considering the benefits, this could help free up hospital beds, something desperately needed right now. Could telehealth help flatten the curve of cases by allowing people to talk with medical professionals, be diagnosed, and receive treatment online?
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Just finished reading your article on telehealth, and I’m buzzing with thoughts! Your insights on the evolution of telehealth have really got me thinking about the potential of this game-changing technology. The way you outlined its journey so far and speculated about its future – spot on!
Now, let’s talk telehealth software – the unsung hero of the digital health revolution. Your breakdown of its benefits was enlightening! The way it streamlines communication between healthcare providers and patients, especially in these unprecedented times, is nothing short of revolutionary. The convenience it brings to both sides of the healthcare spectrum is mind-blowing.
If you’re intrigued by the magic of telehealth software, making healthcare more accessible and user-friendly, explore the wonders of telehealth software.
Hie The article I wrote on mHealth helped me a lot. I really liked how you explained all the crucial rules. I recently looked into the mHealth Guide, and I also wrote a piece of content outlining the specifics of the mHealth, which is identical to it. It would be wonderful if you could have a moment to look at it and let me know what you think.
Just finished reading your article on the evolution of telehealth, and I have to say, it was eye-opening! Your insights into the past and potential future of telehealth were not only informative but also got me thinking about the transformative power of technology in healthcare.
I couldn’t help but notice how seamlessly telehealth has integrated into our lives, especially during these challenging times. It’s fascinating to see how technology has become a key player in shaping the healthcare landscape, making it more accessible and convenient for everyone.
Now, speaking of telehealth software solutions, the convenience they offer is incredible – from virtual consultations to remote monitoring, it’s revolutionizing the way we approach healthcare. Explore the wonders of telehealth software solutions, you’ll be amazed at the possibilities. Imagine the ease of connecting with your healthcare provider from the comfort of your home!
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