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The Value of eConsults: 4 Uses for Primary Care Providers
An eConsult is a form of asynchronous telehealth that enables primary care providers to consult with specialists remotely. The uses of eConsults in the primary care setting include provider telementoring, identifying whether the patient's needs can be met in the primary care setting, improving preparedness before a specialist visit, and/or increasing the ability to provide medical care aligned with the urgency of the patient's need.
3 Benefits of Asynchronous Telehealth, and a Pitfall to Avoid.
Asynchronous telehealth can be beneficial for healthcare providers by increasing productivity, improving documentation, decreasing barriers to access and creating more inclusivity. However, if an asynchronous telehealth program is not properly managed, it can create a vicious cycle of reactive work and unproductivity for providers, and this must be considered when designing an asynchronous telehealth program.
An Asynchronous Telehealth Program can be a Winning Strategy for Value Based Care. Here’s Why.
Asynchronous telehealth can be a winning strategy for value-based care — leading to improved outcomes, increased access to care, and reduced healthcare costs
Common Telemedicine Applications in Surgery
Telemedicine in surgery can facilitate the education and training of surgeons and increase access to specialized services in remote, underdeveloped regions. Newer telecommunication technologies, more telemedicine-friendly legislation and advancements in robotics can help remove some of the barriers.
Telehealth and The Digital Divide: Two Lessons Learned in 2020
COVID-19 highlighted issues surrounding telehealth and digital divide. As society turns to the internet for civic and business transactions, those without internet access — or without the skills to use this access — are at a disadvantage.
Three Telehealth Interventions for Women’s Health — Cervical Health Awareness Month
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death for women in the United States, and almost all cervical cancer cases are linked to infections with high-risk strains of HPV virus. mHealth interventions can be used to educate patients and send reminders about screenings, and to increase HPV vaccine education. Also, tele-colposcopy can be used to increase access to specialized gynecological services.
Recording Medical Visits: Things to Remember
Recording medical visits can be done, but proper planning is needed to avoid risks. We should be familiar with the laws that regulate the recording of conversations. Many patients record medical visits without the consent of the physician, and there is not much we can do about it.
The Environmental Impact of Telemedicine
Telemedicine can help mitigate healthcare’s impact on the environment. The healthcare sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases — a leading cause of climate change. Climate change is a threat to the health and wellbeing of our society, which is contrary to the goals of our healthcare system.
Understanding the Telehealth Consent
The telehealth consent is an important tool to educate patients about the benefits and risks of a telehealth visit. It is also an opportunity to address privacy and security. Despite not being required in all states, the telehealth consent is consider a best practice.
Telehealth Interventions to Support Self-Management of Chronic Conditions
Improving a patient’s skills to manage their chronic illness can have a positive impact on the value of the services we provide. This article discusses the PRISMS taxonomy and how it's components could be reconstructed for telehealth delivery.
Telemedicine and the Patient-Physician Relationship
The patient-physician relationship remains a keystone of healthcare. This relationship must be established before the provision of telemedicine services. The Federation of State Medical Boards has guidelines for the establishment of a valid relationship via telemedicine.
Ease-of-Use Factor in the Design of Telehealth Programs
Consumer satisfaction is the driving force for the planning and design of services. Useful and easy to use telehealth programs can can have a positive impact on the consumer’s adoption of these services. Asynchronous modalities, mHealth and eCommunications are convenient and effective strategies to facilitate end-user adoption.
AAMC Working Towards Telemedicine Competencies
In 2016 the American Medical Association adopted policy to encourage the integration of telemedicine education and training in the medical curriculum, and in 2019 the Association of American Medical Colleges created a telemedicine competency work group to research and develop competencies for telemedicine education. However, there are a number of barriers to telemedicine education that need to be addressed.
Using Connected Health to Improve Care Coordination
Connected Health is a term used to describe the collective of telemedicine technologies. Care coordination a key strategy that has the potential to improve the value of our services, but a disjointed system highlighted by deficient communication and collaboration is a barrier to quality care coordination. Care coordination tasks can be reconstructed using digital health tools.
Incorporating Telemedicine Education in the Medical School Curriculum
There are unique barriers to incorporating telemedicine competencies to the existing curriculum: a busy schedule, limited institutional and financial resources, lack of experienced faculty and lack of available telemedicine curriculum. This article highlights 3 ways to incorporate telemedicine into the curriculum.
Facilitators of Physician Adoption of Telemedicine Programs — Part 3 of 3
This article focus on an important factor influencing physician engagement and adoption of telemedicine: Financial Incentives/Reinforcement Factor.
Facilitators of Physician Adoption of Telemedicine Programs — Part 2 of 3
This article focus on two factors influencing physician engagement and adoption of telemedicine: Social Influence and Facilitation Conditions.
Facilitators of Physician Adoption of Telemedicine Programs — Part 1 of 3
This article focus on two factors influencing physician engagement and adoption of telemedicine: Usefulness and Ease-of-Use.