Technology and Health Care Paper
Eugenia Washington
HCS/531 Health Care Organization and Delivery System
August 11, 2014
Tracey Lane
The product that I chose to use is the virtual physician visit. This visit would be structured to finance standard care for any patient with trivial sicknesses.Patients would be able to log onto a specified website where they would be able to openly communicate with a physician. After logging in and connecting with a physician, the patient would be able to communicate the symptoms that they are experiencing to the physician via instant messaging or leaving an email and waiting until a physician can respond to their concerns. This will allow the physician to make a
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A phone call could take place but it would not be as beneficial because some symptoms may be heard and explained but not seen.
The primary care has a huge impact on the relationship between the physician and the patient. Setting up the HER (Electronic Health Record) is very imperative in ensuring that the patient’s medical record is easily accessible and can be shared. This is beneficial to the health care network so that providers and patients are able to exchange information even outside of office visits. Patients that are uninsured and utilize online services for physician visits have a lower cost alternative. A patient paying $45 for a virtual visit whom is suffering from a sinus infection is much more affordable than an emergency room or office doctor visit. Those living in remote areas where a shortage of physicians exists or where access requires lengthy trips to the nearest clinic may find they can access care more quickly and at less out of pocket expense, as costs for travel are eliminated. In both situations it is the reduced wait time and easier access to a physician that help them feel better faster, thus improving their quality of life. Knowing that there is an alternate option such as virtual visits gives the extra assurance needed.
Virtual visits are beneficial to all involved. Patients have a lower cost than co-pays and have to spend less out of pocket. Eads rationalizes that his office has provided virtual visits for years and the service has become
Electronic health records can lessen the disintegration of care by refining care coordination. The use of electronic health records will deliver providers with accurate information. This is especially important for those that see multiple specialists, and enable a smooth transition between care settings and receive treatment in emergency
Increased public demand to access health information and growth of consumerism in health care industry are two important reasons form increasing attention to Personal Health Records (PHRs) in the recent years. Surveys show that a considerable number of people want to have access to their health information. In one survey, 60 percent of respondents wanted physicians to provide online access to medical records and test results, and online appointment scheduling; 1 in 4 said they would pay more for the service.
When people think of health care, they often think up images from their own experiences in doctors' offices, clinics, and hospitals. Then there are the images of intense drama and hustling and bustling in hospitals and emergency rooms such as those presented on television and in the movies. These are all part of the health care arena, but it extends far beyond the emergency room. Health care agencies and governmental agencies mission is to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of
Employers are beginning to incorporate telemedicine into the benefits package for their employees. Recognizing e-visits are beneficial to the employer, because the employee will not need as much time away from work to have non-emergent health conditions treated. In addition, the service is a cost savings to both the employer and employee. There are some employer groups covering these services at 100 percent for their employees’. E-visits are cheaper than clinic, and office visits.
For patients with chronic health conditions, or life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, virtual medical encounters foster a greater sense of comfort and familiarity with their physicians. Even before they have their first face-to-face appointment with a new physician, they can take a virtual tour of the medical facility, ask questions via an EHR patient portal and in some instances connect with other patients experiencing similar journeys. All of these benefits come with a great potential to improve patient outcomes, and often reduce the overall cost of care by almost $90 per visit. Studies show that four out of ten patients admit they would skip seeing a doctor if they did not have access to a remote appointment, which could increase risks and potentially exacerbate treatment or recovery.
One key argument that Cason makes is the transition away from a fee for service model, to a more patient centered model of healthcare. The Triple Aim sums up the patient centered model of care well. Further, Cason provides examples of how telemedicine is highlighted throughout the Affordable Care Act legislation as a viable means toward improving access to care, along with being a cost effective way to involve patients in their care. Lastly, there are numerous quality examples from the VA on the success of telemedicine. Other studies to date have not shown the cost savings that telemedicine has promised. However, one thing that has been repeated time and time again is increased patient satisfaction, and patient engagement in their care. Cason shows this to be true again in this article. The viability of telemedicine as a collaborative tool, used for engaging patients who lack access to care, along with those who are not engaged in disease management appears to be sound. Cason strengthens this argument, and helps strengthen the research question for this capstone
There are weaknesses in the proposed plans to improve access. In the case of telehealth nothing can replace the hands on analysis of a trained physician. Any type of trauma care will still require an airlift to a trauma center for care. Complications such as reactions to medications, or complications of child delivery, would leave the patient in the hands of under trained staff. Such a program would require an infrastructure of physicians willing to teleconference. Second it would require an internet or satellite link that could not be disrupted.
Everyone has that one doctor they feel safe and comfortable with. With telemedicine we are able to keep that special bond and to some this is very important. Just as we are able to take college on-line clinicians can receive their education and training through communication links. Through Secure Telehealth a meeting room may be purchased at $300 month. “A web cam $92 and a special microphone $109 and Windows software are installed on each endpoint computer. Physicians connect with clinics in their meeting room by sending a link via email containing the URL and password for the meeting” (How Telepsychiatry Works para.1). Telepsychiatry promotes other Telehealth links, for example, electronic medical records. When the doctor is on a video conference with the patient the doctor is able to type the patient’s information on their medical profile while they are talking and the doctor can
The increased efficiencies that come with portal use allow providers to spend less time on administrative tasks and to see more patients in person (Liederman, Lee, Baquero, & Seites, 2005). That means that many of the routine questions were being addressed through this form of communication while the more extended, in-depth discussion could take place in the provider’s office in person, and the provider did not need to feel rushed during that visit. The provider could focus on giving care to his or her patients, that which they desire to be the focus of their
ONLINE CARE AND ITS POTENTIAL Communication : The Interaction between the Doctor and Patient can be immensely improved , where the patient can provide their feedback , acknowledgment and condition via email instead of scheduling new appointment Choice of Doctors: The Patients can choose which doctors want to be seen there by giving them an option to pick doctors of their choice based on their experience and reviews Second Opinion: The patient can take an immediate second opinion if in case of doubt. There by eliminating ones cynicism about their illness Social Stigma: The concept of Social stigma is completely removed as customer can have privacy as he can book the appointment meet the doctor from
AMERICAN WELL: THE DOCTOR WILL E-SEE YOU NOW 1. Which of the new market opportunities do you see as the most promising? Various market opportunities available for American Well are : Hospitals – Installing an online case kiosk in emergency room will allow patients to consult physicians’ online while waiting to be seen. Moreover, the physicians would already have preliminary information about the ailment of the patient, improving the hospital’s overall efficiency. It would also help the
Medical technology encompasses a wide range of healthcare products and is used to diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases or medical conditions that affect humans. This may included but not limited too, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical equipment. Such technologies are intended to improve the quality of healthcare delivered through earlier diagnosis, less invasive treatment options and reductions in hospital stays and rehabilitation times. Recent advances in medical technology have also focused on cost reduction. Medical technology may include medical devices, information technology, biotech, and healthcare services. The impacts of medical technology may involve social and ethical issues. For example physicians may seek objective information from technology rather than listening to subjective patient reports. A major contributor of healthcare expenditure in America is the advancement of medical technology. According to several studies it is shown that there is a correlation between the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and money allocated to healthcare. One of the leading theories is that medical technology is growing faster than expected.
Over the course of many centuries, medical technology has developed to a great extent. Studies show that recent equipment has evolved more in the last ten to twenty years than in the past thousand years. Before human time, people learned to treat themselves by just using natural substances. Now-a-days, our hi-tech systems in the medical field have been created for the most effective tools for a high level of patient care. While they advance the tools, it will then allow for quicker diagnosis, less pain, and fewer costs, which in the end will help save more lives. Some people are accepting that modern technology can buy them more time to live while others might find it quite alarming because they fear
In today’s medical field technology plays a big role when it comes to patient care. Technology is huge when it comes to giving the patient the best type of quality care when they are in the hospital. In the old days people would just write it down on a sheet of paper and record it by hand, which caused mistakes. Now with the Electronic Health Record those mistakes are drastically declining. Statistics have shown that using the Electronic Health Record has lowered Nursing mistakes as well as improved patient care. Our society has progressed through the years and has been introduced with the Electronic Health Record which has drastically improved our health care system. The Electronic Health Record provides great communication between
Technology changes everything is a phrase that is often used at my place of employment in order to change the perspective of how some people view its many different applications. In the case of our example with the; “Brain Saving Technologies, Inc and the T- Health institute: Medicine through videoconferencing, technology is being used to fundamentally change how medical treatment is delivered (O’Brien & Marakas, 2011). From the perspective of a medical patient I would be completely fine being diagnosed by a medical professional “thousands of miles” away from me dependent on known variables about their training and what types of systems are in place by the organizations to ensure legitimacy in their work.