In this series we are seeking out the transforming technology of Virtual Care. How does virtual care fit into what we know as telemedicine? What are the newest innovations and products in virtual care? For telemedicine policy and reimbursement issues, read our regular reporting on Telehealth on RCM Answers.
Hashtags to follow for updates on virtual care:
To Listen:
The Tate Chronicles
The Tate Chronicles airs weekdays at 3:30am, 11:30am, and 7:30pm ET on HealthcareNOW Radio. Tune in to hear your correspondent Jim Tate (jimtate) & join him as he cuts through the fog and static that exists at the leading edge of healthcare technology. Jim’s guest this episode is Karim Babay, the Chairman and CEO of HealthSapiens, a nationwide healthcare provider that delivers on-demand access to healthcare anytime, anywhere, via mobile devices, the internet, video and phone.
Industry News:
NYU Langone Health’s Virtual Urgent Care Brings World-Class Doctors to Patients on Mobile Devices
When you’re not feeling well and it isn’t easy to make it to the doctor, what do you do? NYU Langone Health’s (@nyulangone) Virtual Urgent Care service now offers patients in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania a real-time video visit with a world-class doctor in the palm of the hand.
MinuteClinic Launches New Virtual Care Offering in Seven Additional States
CVS Health (@CVSHealth) announced that MinuteClinic, the company’s retail medical clinic, has rolled out its new virtual health care offering in seven additional states. People with minor illnesses and injuries, skin conditions and other wellness needs can now seek care through MinuteClinic Video Visits, a telehealth offering, in the states of Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont. MinuteClinic Video Visits provide patients with access to care 24 hours a day, seven days a week from their mobile device.
To Read:
Redefining how care is delivered. Great examples from @PartnersNews & @OscarHealth – our partners from across healthcare – of the impact of #virtualcare. cc: @forbes https://t.co/WDejCACyzg
— Teladoc Health (@TeladocHealth) November 2, 2018
GlobalMed
Telemedicine: How to Explain it to Customers – Telemedicine is a two-way interactive form of communication that occurs remotely between patients and providers. This communication is done through video and audio equipment and allows a patient and physician to interact with one another virtually. There are a variety of telemedicine technologies that can be used during an encounter to provide assessment of the patient.
What Conditions Can Be Treated With Telemedicine? – With so many technological advancements at our fingertips, it’s not too surprising to find that seeking medical attention via the internet is becoming very popular, especially within the realm of telemedicine. So what is telemedicine, exactly? Well, it is a progressive approach in health care that enables physicians to make use of information technology and telecommunication to provide rudimentary care to patients who are not able to visit a medical facility, either do due to time constraints or mobility issues.
Zipnosis
Can Effective Antibiotic Stewardship Co-Exist with Telemedicine? – Recently, JAMA Internal Medicine published a research letter from Kathryn A. Martinez, PHD, MPH, et al on the intersection of telemedicine, patient satisfaction and antibiotic prescribing practice. The study found that approximately 66% of patients who had video visits for respiratory tract infections (RTI) through a major telemedicine service received an antibiotic prescription. The researchers also found that patient satisfaction, based on a star system of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest), strongly correlated with antibiotic prescriptions.
Moving into #budgeting season for 2019, #healthcare execs are thinking about #CostContainment. Did you know #VirtualCare does more than offer clear #revenue opportunities? It can also help #HealthSystems contain costs. Find out how: https://t.co/Tw1antdzaG
— Zipnosis (@Zipnosis) November 2, 2018
Ensocare
How Transportation Drives Healthcare Outcomes – In recent years, more and more attention is being paid not just to the medical aspects of a person’s care, but to those social factors that have an inordinately large impact on the care journey. These social determinants of health include things like zip code, access to healthy foods, community resources, family life, schooling and more. But one of the most important of these is transportation.
Upcoming Events:
The American Telemedicine Association Events
ATA is a non-profit association based in Washington DC with a membership network of more than 10,000 industry leaders and healthcare professionals. We are a leading telehealth association helping to transform healthcare by improving the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Find their next event.
Exhibit and sponsorship opportunities are now available for #ATA19! Don’t miss the opportunity for your organization to gain brand visibility in the telemedicine and virtual care industries. Learn why your team should join us April 14-16 in New Orleans: https://t.co/ZlNfHnTokA pic.twitter.com/UJuKyqGlT0
— American Telemed (@AmericanTelemed) October 9, 2018
Defining the industry according to the AAPF
Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. It occurs using a telecommunications infrastructure between a patient (at an originating or spoke site) and a physician or other practitioner licensed to practice medicine (at a distant or hub site).
Telehealth refers to a broad collection of electronic and telecommunications technologies that support health care delivery and services from distant locations. Telehealth technologies support virtual medical, health, and education services.
Virtual Care is a patient service model for healthcare providers.