Editor’s note: Alena shows how telemedicine technology is advantageous for healthcare organizations and patients and explains why it is worth investing in it. And if you want to reap the benefits of telemedicine, feel free to check it out. our offer of telemedicine application development.
Statistics they show the stable growth of the telemedicine market influenced by factors such as the growing demand for online services, health technological progress, the COVID-19 pandemic, and so on. But what makes telemedicine increasingly popular: hype or objective benefits? In this article, I will give an overview of the most significant benefits of telemedicine technology, show how telehealth benefits caregivers and patients to decide if it’s worth opting for this technology.
Telemedicine enables the provision of remote healthcare with the help of telecommunication technology. The National Telehealth Resource Center defines the following types of telemedicine:
Live video conferencing (synchronous) – two-way interaction between a patient and a healthcare provider using audiovisual telecommunications technology. To see how this type of telemedicine works in real life, check out ScienceSoft’s telehealth project for the Chiron Health platform.
Store and forward (asynchronous) – transmission of a patient’s medical information through an electronic communications system to a care provider without real-time interaction.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) – Collection of medical and personal health data of a person outside a medical center using electronic communication technologies. The data collected is transmitted to a healthcare provider (hospitals, clinics, residential facilities, etc.) for use in related care and support. A demonstration of a telemedicine application with RPM it will help you better understand its functionality.
Expand access to health care
Since telemedicine is inextricably linked to the use of telecommunications technologies, many barriers to receiving medical care are removed with telehealth technology. For example, telemedicine allows you to receive the necessary health services without visiting health care providers, which is very important for the elderly, people with disabilities, patients with rural areas, post-surgical patients, etc. Patients can use a telemedicine application not only for ordinary electronic visits, but also for real-time monitoring of body condition with the help of wireless medical devices and portable biosensors. According to the American Well Telehealth Index: 2019 Physician Survey, 93% of physicians surveyed report that telemedicine software improves patients’ access to care.
Better treatment results
Healthcare providers can achieve better quality of care delivery, as telemedicine technology allows real-time monitoring of patient health data (this online demonstration shows how it looks in real life). This data can be collected automatically with the help of medical devices or portable biosensors. In addition, patients can add personal health data to the system manually. Using relevant information about patients ’physiological parameters, physicians can quickly change or supplement a treatment plan and prescribe the necessary medications if necessary. In this way, telemedicine applications can help reduce the rate of readmission and the use of the emergency room. For example, the Veterans Health Administration stated that they reduced hospital readmissions 51% for heart failure and 44% for other diseases with the help of telemedicine software.
Reduction of health costs
Because telehealth reduces emergency room use and readmission rate, it also helps caregivers save a lot of money. According to statistics, Jefferson Health saves from $ 309 to over $ 1,500 at each avoided emergency visit. Telehealth technology also allows caregivers to use remote outsourcing analysis services (e.g., telepathology and teleradiology) and avoid the cost of specific medical equipment and highly specialized medical personnel.
Improving patient involvement and satisfaction
ScienceSoft customers point out that telehealth solutions make patients feel safer and more secure, as they can reach out to a caregiver with a few clicks and know that their health data is monitored by professionals. In addition, high-quality telemedicine applications allow patients to participate in their treatment process: patients have access to their treatment plan, information about their vitals with their doctor’s comments or suggestions, and relevant educational materials. The positive influence of telehealth technology on patient satisfaction level is confirmed by the US Telehealth Satisfaction Study JD Power 2019, where the patient satisfaction rate for telemedicine services reached 851 out of 1,000 (on a scale of 1,000 points).
As my practice shows, telemedicine applications can be extremely useful for both patients and caregivers. Therefore, by investing in telehealth software, software product companies have the opportunity to enter the healthcare computer market with a profitable product. And to increase the chances of success in the market, I recommend collaborating with professionals with experience in the development of telemedicine applications. If you are interested, you are welcome turn to ScienceSoft’s healthcare IT team to develop your high quality telemedicine application.
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