Telemedicine in the Healthcare Industry

Telemedicine today has become a common term today in the healthcare industry. But what is telemedicine?

Telemedicine is usage of telecommunication and IT for offering healthcare services from a far of place. It has numerous advantages like saving lives of people in case of emergency, breaks distance barriers. The patients can be at ease and do not have stress about it.

There are even some trends in it for the year 2016. Some of them are:

1. Data Analytics:

Telemedicine program management involves clinical usage and financial data, individual consultations and physicians to setting-specific metrics and program-wide trends. But modern systems are making this information readily accessible. The only way to enhance telemedicine network performance is to measure it, and this enhanced mindset can be chiefly vital for hospitals in competitive geographies.

With increased concentration on patient engagement and improved outcomes, providers are asking telemedicine solutions that are better than consultations & improve program management clinical effectiveness.

2. Improved EMR Integration:

Recording telemedicine encounters is turning out to be increasingly important, particularly for reimbursement. Usually, EMR integration has been a challenge within telemedicine solutions, but even this is changing. And the reason for this is because many telemedicine networks are including providers by using different EMR systems, and is essential that patient information need to flow freely.

While a telemedicine consultation, applicable patient information must be presented effortlessly to the clinician at the point of care and as well as the remote specialist. As telemedicine spreads throughout the range of healthcare delivery and integration with EMR systems is rapidly turning into a baseline expectation.

Advantages of Telemedicine:

Convenience:

Convenience is very important key for any person. The people living in the remote areas, where medical expertise is difficult to reach telemedicine can be used. The various ways are through mail, phone calls, video calls, etc.

Cost:

Cost is very less in this process when compared to the meeting the doctor in-person. It saves money of patients by reducing the costs of travelling, non-urgent ER visits and most importantly time is also saved.

Patient Care Quality:

The biggest weapon for quick recovery is offering patient-centered approaches and telemedicine provides it. With this, patients can feel free and discuss the problems with doctors easily and know the medications for it on the spot.  According to a study, telemedicine patients have lower score for depression, anxiety and stress and have 38% less hospital admissions.

Direct Communication:

The patients opting for telemedicine can have direct communication with the doctor rather than having a third person like a nurse coming in between.  The concerned person i.e. patient can ask the doctor regarding his health condition and can even explain the medical history.