No matter what industry you’re in, the future of your business depends on how well it adapts to change. For healthcare providers, telehealth adoption is one of those changes that can be life-saving — or at least life-changing — for patients and their families. But there are still plenty of myths about telehealth out there that need busting. In this blog post, I’m going to explain why telehealth adoption is a good thing for both patients and providers, and help you understand what your role in it all should be.
Telehealth adoption is growing rapidly
The use of telehealth in healthcare is growing rapidly. According to the American Telemedicine Association, the number of patients using remote monitoring services grew from about 350,000 in 2012 to 2 million by 2017–that’s a 700% increase in just five years!
Telehealth isn’t new technology; it’s been around for quite some time and has been used successfully since its inception over 20 years ago. In fact, you may have even used telemedicine yourself without realizing it: one example is when you called your doctor’s office with an urgent question or concern and were told how to treat your condition until they could see you again (or got transferred directly).
Telemedicine saves money and improves patient experience because there are fewer unnecessary office visits due to better communication between providers and patients during those visits when needed; plus there’s no need for travel time between offices/hospitals, which saves money on fuel costs too! But most importantly: no matter how great technology gets over time – nothing replaces face-to-face human interaction when it comes right down, “What do I do now?”
Telehealth is a new way of delivering healthcare
Telehealth is a new way of delivering healthcare. It’s not just about technology, but also about changing the way we think about care and how it can be provided. Telehealth has been around for decades in some form or another, but it’s only recently that we have seen an explosion in its use due to advances in mobile devices and video conferencing software.
A common misconception among those who aren’t familiar with telehealth is that it’s synonymous with virtual visits–or “telemedicine.” While these do fall under the umbrella of telehealth services, they are not necessarily all encompassing terms: there are other types of remote patient monitoring services available besides virtual visits (for example).
Another common misconception is that all forms of remote care offer equal quality compared to traditional face-to-face interactions between patients and physicians–and this simply isn’t true! The truth is that some methods will be better suited than others depending on what type of service they provide; therefore, nurses should always consult their employer before deciding if any particular method would work best given their specific needs at the workplace.
Telehealth is not new technology
Telehealth is not a new technology. It’s simply a way to deliver healthcare that has been used for decades. In fact, many of us have experienced telehealth in our own homes and communities.
For example, if you’ve ever used an online pharmacy service or called an automated answering service to get health advice from a nurse or doctor over the phone, then you’ve already experienced telehealth!
Telehealth saves money and improves the patient experience
Telehealth is a cost-effective way to improve access to care for patients, reducing travel time and wait times for patients who live in rural areas or have difficulty getting to healthcare facilities. In fact, according to a 2016 study by the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), “the evidence indicates that telemedicine reduces costs while improving quality of care.” The ATA also found that telemedicine can reduce hospital admissions by 20% and ER visits by 35%.
In addition to saving money on healthcare costs, telehealth improves patient satisfaction with their providers because they can get quick answers from doctors when they need them most–from home!
Telehealth is not a substitute for in-person care
Telehealth is not a substitute for in-person care. However, it can be used as a supplement and bridge to in-person care.
Telehealth is best used when patients are at home or in their own environment. It’s important that they feel comfortable and safe with their surroundings, so they can get the most out of their experience with telehealth services.
Remote care is not always better than in-person care
Telehealth is not always better than in-person care. In some cases, remote monitoring and consultation can be the best option for patients who are unable or unwilling to travel long distances to a clinic or hospital. However, there are many other instances where an in-person visit with your doctor or nurse practitioner is preferable–and that’s OK!
Telemedicine can be used as a supplement to traditional healthcare practices, allowing you access to medical professionals without having to make multiple trips into town each week (or month). It also gives doctors access to real-time data about their patients’ conditions when they’re away from home or work; this information may help them make better decisions about treatment plans going forward.
Use telehealth software
Telehealth video conferencing software can be a great way to connect doctors and patients. It’s also a good option for providing remote care, which is especially helpful for patients who live in areas where there aren’t many medical professionals.
The fact that telehealth video conference solutions and API can help doctors provide better care should come as no surprise; we already know that technology has improved patient outcomes in many other areas of medicine over the last few decades. However, when it comes to telemedicine adoption, there are still some myths surrounding how effective these tools are at improving outcomes–and whether they’re right for every practice or hospital setting.
It’s time to embrace change and allow doctors to use telehealth
The fact that you’re reading this article means that you’re interested in telehealth. You’ve probably heard of it before, but maybe you don’t know much about it. Maybe some of the myths surrounding remote care have made you skeptical of its benefits.
If so, we’re here to dispel those myths and show why telehealth should be an integral part of your healthcare strategy:
- Telehealth isn’t just new technology–it’s a whole new way of delivering healthcare. According to a study by Deloitte, “telemedicine is not just another form of communication; it has the potential to fundamentally change how patients access and receive care.” As more doctors adopt remote methods like video visits with patients or texting prescriptions through apps, they’re finding ways to improve both convenience and cost savings compared with traditional practices where patients must travel long distances just for an appointment.
- Telehealth is better than traditional care because it can be more convenient, affordable and accessible. In fact, a recent study found that patients who used telemedicine were twice as likely to say they would use it again compared with those who received in-person care only.
Conclusion
Telehealth is the future of healthcare, and it’s time for us to embrace change. It will not only help people around the world access healthcare but also improve their experience when they do get treatment in person.
