Understanding Telemedicine
Telemedicine has become an essential tool for modern healthcare professionals. Healthcare organizations are adopting advanced technology as more patients expect online access to their health information and the option to use telehealth services to receive medical care.
Definition of Telemedicine
Telemedicine solutions serve as a way for healthcare providers to deliver care to patients using telehealth technology. Telemedicine solutions utilize video calls, chat messaging, and voice calls to deliver healthcare services to patients in a remote setting. Telemedicine services are not intended to replace in-person visits completely but instead offer remote care when available.
Telemedicine is an ideal service for patients who experience access barriers to traditional medical services. For example, patients who live in rural and underserved areas often have to travel to larger cities to receive specialized care, which can keep them from seeking out care.
The Emergence and History of Telemedicine
The start of modern telemedicine can be traced back to the early 1900s as technology started to be introduced on a global level. Once technology became more advanced and available to the general public, the applications of telemedicine technology grew, especially after the need for remote healthcare skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical professionals now use advanced technology to create health plans, analyze medical images, and measure patients’ vitals remotely.
Different Types of Telemedicine Services
Telemedicine services have found their use across the healthcare sector, from medical education to remote patient monitoring. A few ways that telemedicine services can be used to supplement patient care are virtual appointments for:
-
Refill or request prescriptions
-
Consult with a doctor to determine if an in-person appointment is needed
-
Speak with a therapist or other mental health professional from the comfort of home
The Role of Telemedicine in Primary Care
Primary care providers can benefit from the use of telemedicine technology, as patients will typically use their primary care provider as their initial contact for any health concern. This means that not every appointment would require an in-person visit, which is where telemedicine services come into play.
Telemedicine as a Tool in Routine Check-ups
It’s common for patients to only see their primary care providers during their annual physicals, which can be simplified by using telemedicine technology. For example, patients can check in virtually, fill out questionnaires, and enter any questions before meeting with their provider, streamlining the check-in process. Additionally, if any blood work is completed, patients can view their results online through a telemedicine portal, along with any notes entered by their primary care doctor.
Chronic Disease Management through Telemedicine
Patients who experience chronic conditions or diseases have greatly benefitted from telemedicine services, reducing the number of in-person appointments required. Healthcare providers can use connected devices to monitor a patient’s vital signs with remote monitoring technology.
Healthcare providers can also set up notifications for when a patient’s vital signs reach a defined threshold, notifying the provider, patients, and emergency contacts. This is a great feature for patients with chronic conditions, as it gives the patient more freedom with telemedicine care while improving health outcomes.
Medical Consultation and Prescription Refills via Telemedicine
Patients will typically visit their primary healthcare provider for any general concerns they have so they can either receive direct care or a referral to a specialist. For example, if a patient is experiencing stomach problems or joint pain, they will likely meet with their primary care physician to receive a referral to a specialist. Primary care physicians can perform virtual consultations for these issues, saving the patient from making unnecessary in-person visits just to get referred to another healthcare provider.
Telemedicine services are also an ideal option for patients requesting prescription refills. While some healthcare providers might request an in-person appointment for refills they don’t view as necessary, many prescription refills are common, such as everyday medications like inhalers or migraine medicine.
Advantages and Challenges of Telemedicine in Primary Care
Now that we’ve reviewed how telemedicine is used in the healthcare sector to deliver primary care let’s take a look at some of the benefits and challenges providers will experience.
Benefits of Using Telemedicine in Primary Care
Telemedicine for primary care appointments streamlines healthcare delivery, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and health outcomes. With increased access to healthcare services, primary care patients can easily communicate with their providers, making them more likely to be proactive with health issues. When patients are proactive about their health, providers are able to catch health issues early on, improving patient outcomes.
Telemedicine technology also makes it easier for providers across specialties to work together, sharing medical records and consulting on patients’ health concerns. This allows healthcare practitioners to get a complete understanding of the patient’s health history and make informed decisions when creating a care plan.
Potential Challenges in the Adoption of Telemedicine
While many patients and providers have adjusted to the use of advanced technology in the healthcare industry, there are others who are resistant to the idea of change. Healthcare organizations must be prepared for resistance and offer ample training before completely transitioning to telemedicine software.
Another challenge that all telehealth solutions face is the privacy and security of organization and patient information. Software solutions in the healthcare system have to comply with federal regulations on patient data security, including HIPAA and GDPR. Patients and providers must have confidence in the privacy and security of the telemedicine app, making this a top priority for healthcare providers.
Strategies to Overcome Telemedicine Challenges
A great way to overcome internal challenges when using a new telemedicine solution for primary care is to offer training sessions that cover common workflows at the user level. For example, administrative staff will use the telemedicine app differently than a primary care provider would, and knowing the others’ workflow could cause more confusion during implementation. By offering separate training sessions, users can learn everything they need to know about their workflows and access user manuals tailored to their position.
Telemedicine applications should have additional security measures outside of HIPAA compliance, such as multi-factor authentication and session timeouts. When users can see the additional security measures in place to protect their information, they will have more confidence in the privacy and security of the telemedicine solution.
The Future of Telemedicine in Primary Care
Telemedicine solutions are becoming increasingly common in the healthcare industry, and healthcare organizations must adapt to new technology to remain competitive in the market. Telemedicine technology can transform a healthcare organization’s workflow and improve patient outcomes, making it an ideal investment for providers.
Current Trends in Telemedicine Adoption
Healthcare providers are adopting telemedicine solutions in order to remain a market competitor and streamline internal workflows. When looking for new healthcare providers, younger patients are more likely to go with a provider that allows them to schedule appointments online and enter chart information through a telemedicine portal. With online services, healthcare organizations can also reduce the amount of administrative work required, with patient communication happening through a portal instead of phone calls.
Long-Term Impacts of Telemedicine on Primary Care
Telemedicine for primary care can bring long-term benefits to patients in regard to their personal health care. When patients have easy access to their primary care providers without needing to go to an in-person appointment, they are more likely to reach out with health concerns. This means health conditions are getting caught early on, making treatment easier and improving outcomes, rather than waiting until it’s a serious problem with fewer treatment options.
Work With Geneca Today
When you partner with Geneca, you’re choosing to work with a company with over 25 years of experience. With this experience, we bring:
-
A 97% success rate in an industry that averages around 30% as the norm
-
A commitment to stick to your budget and timeline
-
Transparent project management and client communication
-
Industry knowledge of software and business regulations
If you’re ready to take the next step and learn more about how the best telemedicine software can benefit your company, reach out to Geneca today.