Telemedicine, also known as telehealth, is revolutionizing the way that patients receive care. Just as telephones allow people to talk without being physically near one another, telemedicine makes use of technology such as video conferencing to allow patients to receive healthcare services and information remotely – anytime, anywhere. Services available via telemedicine include everything from remote consultations to appointment reminders to health monitoring tools and more.
Telemedicine is one of the fastest-growing facets of healthcare today. According to a recent report from the nonprofit FAIR Health, the percent of telehealth-related medical claims in the US grew by 53% from 2016 to 2017, and new technology is continually being pioneered that will make telemedicine even more effective and wide-reaching.
- The Benefits of Telemedicine
Perhaps the most obvious advantage of telemedicine is its sheer convenience. The ability to receive medical help and advice regardless of time and location is incredibly powerful, especially for people whose locations or schedules may make it difficult to access a healthcare provider through more conventional means. It is especially good news for the elderly and other persons for whom transportation and general mobility may be an issue.
It is easy to assume that while telemedicine offers great convenience, it lacks quality compared to more traditional avenues. However, this is untrue – in fact, telemedicine can even improve the quality of care! Research has shown telemedicine to have significant positive impacts in treating a variety of common problems and conditions, including depression, anxiety, and overall stress levels, as well as reducing the frequency of hospital visits.
How is this achieved? The convenience afforded by telemedicine means that providers can deliver care in an efficient way that sidesteps many of the roadblocks that often stand between patients and better health. If care and information are easily accessible, patients are more likely to seek them out. And this initiative on the part of patients can help catch things early and ensure that they are staying as healthy as possible. Telemedicine also helps patients feel better about their health and the way that they receive care. A study from the Annals of Internal Medicine found that about 80% of patients who had used the online portal offered by their healthcare provider felt that it helped them better control their care experience. Given how complicated and confusing healthcare can be, having this kind of control is very reassuring.
- Telemedicine in Action
To see some of the benefits that telemedicine has to offer, one need only look at the online patient portals that many healthcare providers have already established. These portals allow patients to connect directly with doctors and other health experts over the internet and can help save time and money for all involved. For example, let’s say that a patient wants to request a refill for a prescription. Without the portal, this may require paperwork, phone calls, or an in-person meeting on behalf of the doctor, patient, or both. With the portal, the patient can submit an online request from the comfort of their own home. This request is instantly sent to the doctor, who can then review and approve it remotely while also sending the info along to the pharmacy. No further work required!
Patient portals are also great for setting up appointments and asking questions that may not merit a full appointment but could be important nonetheless. Since all of this is done entirely online, there is no need to waste the doctor or patient’s time setting up an appointment for something very small and simple, nor is there any worry about missing phone calls.
Online tools also make it easy for healthcare providers to send the results of lab tests and medical imaging directly to their patients, as well as making other important health information readily accessible. Providers can even set up the system to automatically email a patient and let them know when something new is available on their account.
- Why Employers Should Embrace Telemedicine
The positive effects of telemedicine for patients – and even for providers – are obvious, but employers also stand to gain quite a lot from offering this type of service to their employees. Quick, cost-effective access to care, combined with the ability to quickly catch and address medical issues, can significantly reduce group health plan expenses as well as lessening out-of-pocket costs for employees. Still not convinced? The American Hospital Association reports that employers who have implemented telehealth programs can save as much as 11% on health-related expenses. In addition to cutting back on costs, the accessible, quality care offered by telemedicine means happier, healthier employees, which in turn means better productivity and improved morale.
Telemedicine is a fast-growing field with a great deal of potential for employers, patients, and providers. Adding telemedicine to your benefits program is a simple and effective way to reduce the cost of healthcare for your organization and its employees while improving the quality of the care your employees receive.