The Future of Telehealth: Five Ways it Will Improve Patient Care

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Telehealth is a rapidly growing field that uses telecommunications technology to deliver healthcare services remotely, observes the technology enthusiast David Woroboff. This type of care has many benefits, including increased access to care, improved patient outcomes, and lower healthcare costs.

Here are 5 ways that telehealth will improve patient care in the future.

1. Increased Access to Care: One of the biggest advantages of telehealth is that it increases access to care for patients in rural and underserved areas. In the past, these patients would have had to travel long distances to see a healthcare provider. With telehealth, they can now receive the same quality of care from the comfort of their own homes.

2. Improved Patient Outcomes: Studies have shown that telehealth can improve patient outcomes by providing more timely and convenient care. For example, one study found that diabetic patients who used telehealth were more likely to achieve their blood sugar goals than those who didn’t use telehealth.

3. Lower Healthcare Costs: Telehealth can also help lower healthcare costs by reducing the need for expensive in-person visits. For example, a study of Medicare patients found that those who used telehealth had 36% fewer hospital admissions than those who didn’t use telehealth.

4. Greater Convenience: Telehealth is also much more convenient for patients than traditional in-person visits. Patients can see a healthcare provider from the comfort of their own homes without having to take time off work or find childcare.

5. improved access to specialists: Telehealth can also improve access to specialist care for patients in rural and underserved areas. In the past, these patients would have had to travel long distances to see a specialist. They can now receive the same kind of care from the convenience of their homes thanks to telehealth.

Challenges faced and tips to overcome them

  • One of the biggest challenges facing telehealth is funding. Many telehealth initiatives are reliant on grant funding, which can be hard to come by. What’s more, even when telehealth programs do receive funding, it’s often not enough to sustain them long-term. To overcome this challenge, telehealth providers need to seek out alternative sources of funding, such as private donors and corporate sponsorships.
  • Another challenge facing telehealth is provider buy-in. Many healthcare providers are still hesitant to embrace telehealth due to concerns about its efficacy and quality. To overcome this challenge, telehealth providers need to educate healthcare providers about the benefits of telehealth and how it can be used to improve patient outcomes.
  • Finally, one of the most significant challenges facing telehealth is reimbursement. Currently, Medicare does not reimburse for many telehealth services. To overcome this challenge, telehealth providers need to lobby for changes in reimbursement policies at the state and federal levels.

Telehealth is a rapidly growing field with great potential to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. With proper planning and execution, these challenges can be overcome and telehealth can become a mainstay in the delivery of healthcare services.

Conclusion:

Telehealth is a rapidly growing field that offers many benefits to both patients and healthcare providers. In the future, telehealth will continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of both patients and healthcare providers alike.

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