Patty Post of Checkable: Why Telehealth Is the Future of Family Healthcare
Telehealth, or receiving healthcare services at home through digital technology, is rapidly becoming the future of family healthcare. Telehealth’s growing popularity is due to its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and improved clinical outcomes. This availability also makes the remote connection between patients and healthcare providers more accessible. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the importance of access to healthcare services while decreasing infection risks. Rural areas often have decreased healthcare access, and telehealth can address these issues. Still, telehealth is not without challenges.
This post explores telehealth’s future in family healthcare, including the challenges it presents and the solutions healthcare providers can implement. In addition, we will examine the future of family healthcare and see how telehealth is changing healthcare delivery.
Improved Access to Healthcare
Telehealth can play an essential role in improving access to healthcare. Patients can receive medical care from home using the internet and their smartphone or computer. Telehealth can also benefit those without transportation and help people with physical mobility issues or health conditions that make traveling difficult.
Additionally, telehealth can help overcome healthcare provider shortages in rural and remote areas where fewer doctors and nurses may serve the population. By offering virtual meetings and monitoring, providers can reach more patients without in-person visits.
Likewise, telehealth initiatives have increased access to healthcare for underserved populations. For example, the Virtual Visits program of the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides veterans with medical care and services through telehealth technologies, including video visits, in-home health monitoring, and remote devices that gather and store their health data. This option is valuable for patients who cannot travel to VA medical centers.
Convenience and Cost-Effectiveness
Telehealth improves convenience and decreases costs by allowing patients to receive medical advice and treatment wherever they are. Meeting with your provider from home reduces the cost of travel, time off from work, and childcare expenses.
In addition, virtual sessions can reduce appointment wait times. Patients with chronic conditions would benefit, as they need regular follow-up care. Also, using telehealth services can minimize exposure to infectious diseases. This access eliminates patients being at higher risk inside healthcare facilities.
Telehealth also benefits healthcare providers. Medical offices and hospitals can automate many administrative and routine tasks. This change allows staff more time for patient-facing activities and decreases their workloads. Online consultations can replace the need for travel for patients and providers. Cutting out driving time, gas expenses, and parking fees saves everyone time and money.
Furthermore, telehealth can monitor and improve ongoing health issues, such as medication changes or chronic health conditions. These services assist patients and physicians in managing chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. If issues arise, providers can instantly make the necessary changes to reduce costly hospital or emergency room visits.
Better Quality of Care
Telehealth allows patients to be more involved in their care. An article from the journal Studies in Health Technology and Informatics states, “Effectively engaging patients in their care is vital to improve health outcomes and satisfaction, reduce costs, and benefit the clinician experience.”
Through digital technologies, patients receive instant feedback from their healthcare professionals. They can also view online resources to help them understand their health conditions and symptoms. This consistent contact with patients via telehealth leads to improved outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
Virtual medical visits provide patients with personalized, high-value care. Telehealth allows them to focus better on the consult and instructions. Additionally, online sessions predispose a patient to increased engagement. And if needed, the healthcare provider can easily refer the patient for a follow-up consultation with a preferred specialist in seconds.
Similarly, telehealth permits more frequent monitoring and follow-up care. This increased frequency leads to earlier detection of health issues and improved outcomes. Patients can track their health status and receive immediate feedback. Patients’ ability to self-monitor assists in managing their conditions so they can see problems before they become serious.
A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that “telehealth visits reduced readmission rates of patients with heart failure.” These results provide strong evidence for the use of telehealth after discharge. The findings also support adding telehealth into routine medical care to improve the outcomes of heart failure patients.
Challenges and Solutions
While telehealth has many potential benefits, its application can be challenging for some of the following reasons:
- High-tech barriers, such as inadequate internet access, can limit its success.
- Outdated equipment and lack of technical support can restrict a patient’s use.
- Varying payment policies and service limitations can make it hard for providers to get reimbursed.
- Legal hurdles arise as organizations work to ensure services follow state and federal laws.
- Privacy risks increase with the use of telehealth.
Together, technology companies and healthcare providers must focus their attention on these challenges to conquer any issues telehealth presents. Below are some ways to overcome these challenges:
- Healthcare organizations can implement training on the platforms.
- Providers may work with insurance companies to establish payment and reimbursement of services.
- Patients, nurses, and healthcare professionals can lobby for changes that support telehealth.
- Providers can educate patients about the benefits of telehealth and how to use these services.
- Organizations can build best practice guidelines and policies to secure the success of privacy and security settings.
These steps allow healthcare providers to implement this technology and improve patient care access.
For example, initiating a telehealth program improved access to care (ANTHC, n.d.) for a group of Indigenous communities. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium faced challenges due to unreliable internet service in remote areas. So, they partnered with local internet service providers and invested in mobile telehealth units. The telehealth program worked with insurance providers to ensure covered services without extra patient costs. These efforts improved access to care, promoted better patient outcomes, and resulted in fewer hospital admissions.
The Future of Telehealth
Telehealth will play a crucial role in the future of healthcare. With advances in technology, telehealth can fully integrate into primary care. This union allows patients to receive routine exams from the comfort of their own homes. Remote monitoring devices can track and send vital signs and health data, enabling healthcare providers to identify and address health issues early on. Telehealth also increases care for those in rural areas. Improved outcomes, reduced costs, and increased access make telehealth a vital tool for healthcare’s future.
In addition, telehealth can improve population health by providing proactive and preventive care. Patients can receive regular health visits online through digital devices and internet services. These frequent meetings could prevent health issues from growing. Telehealth can also help access healthcare services for patients in faraway locations, increasing the likelihood that they will get the essential care they need. Therefore, telehealth improves population health and decreases costs by strengthening every person’s access to care.
Similarly, telehealth can improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. For instance, telehealth helps track and monitor patients with chronic conditions. Healthcare providers audit their readings and intervene before there are serious problems. Telehealth links to primary care, allowing patients to receive sessions and follow-up care remotely. These uses can boost access to healthcare, increase patient engagement, and improve healthcare results.
Conclusion
As shown, telehealth is the future of family healthcare. It will transform the healthcare industry by offering greater convenience, accessible care, increased quality of care, and cost-effectiveness for providers and patients alike.
As telehealth continues gaining industry acceptance, healthcare organizations will address concerns and limitations and incorporate them into our systems. Family healthcare will heed the full capability of these services, enhancing access, growing patient engagement, and improving patients’ health and quality of care.
Telehealth is ready to change family healthcare for the better! Explore the life-changing telehealth options and discuss them with your healthcare providers today.
About Patty Post
As a parent and a patient, Patty Post founded Checkable Medical to help families like hers save time and reduce the cost of care through innovative at-home testing kits. With three kids constantly cycling through strep throat, Patty was taking hours of time off of work to get her family tested in order to receive treatment. From time in the car, to waiting rooms, to delayed appointments, giving up 4+ hours for a negative test result was exhausting. That’s why Patty created Checkable Medical in 2019, to help people make clinical, evidence-based decisions from the comfort of home. With accurate results, easy-to-administer tests, and a mobile app connecting you to telemedicine and prescription providers, individuals and families can now test, diagnose, and get prescribed in a matter of minutes, not hours. As a medical device executive and CEO, Patty has first-hand knowledge of the healthcare industry and is passionate about educating and empowering communities to take charge of their health. Patty is currently based in North Dakota and enjoys spending time with her family.
References
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. (n.d.). Telehealth.
https://www.anthc.org/telehealth/
Krist, A. H., Tong, S. T., Aycock, R. A., & Longo, D. R. (2017). Engaging Patients in
Decision-Making and Behavior Change to Promote Prevention. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 240, 284–302.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6996004/
Telehealth.HHS.gov: Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). What is telehealth?
https://telehealth.hhs.gov/patients/understanding-telehealth/
VA, US Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021, January 13). Safe at Home: Virtual Visits.
https://connectedcare.va.gov/whats-new/veterans-corner/safe-home-virtual-visits/
Xu, H., Granger, B. B., Drake, C. D., Peterson, E. D., & Dupre, M. E. (2022). Effectiveness of Telemedicine Visits in Reducing 30‐Day Readmissions Among Patients With Heart Failure During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Journal of the American Heart Association, 11(7), e023935.
