Telemedicine Evaluation

In the United States, a renewed interest occurred in telehealth in the 1990s according to McGonigle and Mastrian because of escalating costs, the need for greater access for all

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.

In the face of the limits of traditional support, it is necessary not only to redesign an organization, but to a paradigm shift that allows the socio-health performance to be efficiently and sustainably distributed to the widest possible audience. Digital technologies applied to healthcare and healthcare systems can increase their efficiency, improve their quality of life and give innovative impetus to healthcare markets. Telemedicine services can therefore be assimilated to any diagnostic / therapeutic health service. However, telemedicine performance does not replace traditional healthcare performance in the personal-patient relationship, but integrates it to improve its effectiveness, efficiency and appropriateness.

The Telehealth services will include the use of technology to deliver telemedicine. The budget will fund the hospital with videoconferencing software, computers, webcams, and trained employees to set up and document the process. The equipment will allow physicians or patients to consult virtually with other physicians and specialists. Instead of missing a day of work or school and commuting hours for an appointment with a specialist, patients will be able to visit their local hospital and consult with the specialist via technology. Consultations, examinations, and monitoring are services that can easily be provided through

We will also work with VMS to create a satisfaction survey or any other information needing to be collected from your patient’s. We want to make sure that we are working together in building your telehealth program.

Teladoc operates on a virtual platform, which means that the potential to expand beyond national borders is very achievable in the future. The global telehealth market is expected to reach $66,606 million by 2021 (Mordor Intelligence, 2017). Growth in the telehealth market is fueled by technological innovation, an increased use of patient monitoring, and an increase of chronic diseases that require long-term follow-up (Mordor Intelligence,

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

As hospitals care for more and sicker patients, unique care platforms are being explored to ensure the highest level of care is provided. We must remember that only around 50% of patients within a critical care setting receive the best practice recommendations (Bauman & Hyzy, 2012). To overcome this care gap, telemedicine or the tele health concept is being explored. Grown from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), telemedicine has been around for 50 years and uses television and/or communication technology to provide patient care (Rogove, 2012). This platform has numerous advantages that include bringing more specialized care to the bedside, expanded monitoring systems as well as improved clinical outcomes (Winterbottom & Campbell, 2012).

[3] Practitioners using telehealth technology have witnessed improved outcomes among underserved groups. Telemedicine has also allowed specialists to treat patients suffering from chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, diabetes and obstructive pulmonary disease, while reducing expenses. The positive benefits will grow drastically as more care providers adopt the technology to treat chronic illnesses, which generate around 75-percent of all health care expenses.

According to the American Telemedicine Association, the telemedicine definition is the use of shared medical information between users in different locations via an electronic system (2016). Telemedicine incorporates software applications via connection to telecommunication devices, e.g., videoconference, smartphones, iPads, and laptops modernizing health care. Because telemedicine can immediately access health information the delivery of health care, is likely to evolve.

As the federal government, state legislatures and state regulatory boards work to create telemedicine policy, it is vital they take a measured, informed

Technology and the health care system is constantly improving every day making patient and health care providers easier to communicate and obtain vital information. One topic that is explained in the following paragraphs is about telemedicine: the date of inception, the history of telemedicine and it’s milestones, the uses of telemedicine, how it is affecting patient care and the potential areas for fraud and abuse.

A total of 12 out of 23 articles (52%) reported a significant reduction in hospitalizations and re-admissions as a result of using telemedicine technology [1,4,5,6,9,10,11,14,15,19,22,23]. 10 out of 23 articles (43%) reported a substantial decrease in hospital and travel costs [1,2,4,5,10,11,16,18,19,22]. 8 out of 23 articles (35%) reported a reduction in mortality rates

According to World Health Organization (2009), telemedicine is defined as, “The delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities”. Telemedicine has been defined as the use of telecommunications to provide medical information and services. It may be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone, or as sophisticated as using satellite technology to broadcast a consultation between providers at facilities in two countries, using videoconferencing equipment or robotic technology.

Also, the suggestions provided to help with the research seems appropriate. One suggestion that can be added to the list is to include the pharmacies (private or government) in the telemedicine plan as there may be some times when a person is not able to go the pharmacy to pick up their medicine and the pharmacies can deliver the same to the address. This means that during the discussion, one more party have to be on-board for the development and implementation of telemedicine systems that is the pharmacies that are affiliated to the medical facilities.