Virtual Care: Transforming the Way We See Our Providers

TOPICS:

Posted By: Roberta Mullin May 22, 2019

In this monthly 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:

From The Tate Chronicles, host Jim Tate’s (@jimtate) guest is Gigi Sorenson the Chief Clinical Officer and Vice President of Operations for GlobalMed. Gigi is an RN MSN. She has a deep background in telehealth, telemedicine, and remote patient monitoring.

Industry News:

Glytec Awarded Patent Allowance for Virtual Insulin Titration in Concert with CGM, Smart Pens and Other Diabetes Technologies
Glytec (@Glytec), the pioneer of digital therapeutics, has been awarded another patent allowance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The latest allowance references interactions between the company’s software-as-a-medical-device platform for insulin titration and multiple connected diabetes technologies, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, smart insulin pens and insulin pumps.

Bright.md launches new virtual care module to help treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Bright.md (@Bright_Health), creator of non-video virtual care solution SmartExam, has added a module to help treat the 20 percent of North Americans who suffer from symptoms of GERD each year. SmartExam will use the GerdQ, a validated screening tool, to collect patient-reported symptoms and history, which providers can then use to support initial diagnosis and treatment.

GlobalMed Achieves Recertification of ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 Standards of Quality from NQA
GlobalMed (@GlobalMed_USA), , an international provider of virtual care solutions, announced that it has transitioned to the prestigious ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2015 Quality Management Standard and the ISO 13485:2016 Medical Devices Standard. Both certifications were granted for the company’s design, development and manufacture of telemedicine stations, medical device cameras and software for medical examination and microscopic study.

Survey, FP Expert Agree: Interest in Telehealth on the Rise
Use of telehealth is increasing steadily throughout the medical profession, and family physicians who aren’t currently using the technology may want to consider doing so for a number of reasons, including as a possible way to reduce burnout and attract new patients. Those are just some of the conclusions reached in the report “Telehealth Index: 2019 Physician Survey” by American Well (@AmericanWell), a Boston-based firm that provides telehealth services for physicians, health systems and employers.

Humana and Doctor on Demand Launch Virtual Primary Care Plan to Bring More Services with Lower Costs to Patients, Insurers, and Employers
Doctor On Demand® (@drondemand) and Humana Inc. (@Humana) announced the launch of On Hand™, an innovative and affordable health plan that centers on comprehensive virtual primary care. This new plan design represents a paradigm shift in healthcare where patients will have access to comprehensive, quality care from doctors without having to visit a doctor’s office, available at significantly lower monthly premiums.

Government of Zimbabwe Partners with GlobalMed for Virtual Care Pilot
GlobalMed (@GlobalMed_USA) announced it has been selected by the government of Zimbabwe for a United Nations-funded project to provide telemedicine services and equipment at 16 clinics in the country’s Manicaland province.

To Read:

Dimensional Insight
The Future of Telehealth and Data Analytics – Technology has decreased the distance between people. Outsourced manufacturing has brought together the global economy, Facebook and WhatsApp make it simple to have a conversation with a friend across the globe, and Google makes the spread of ideas across oceans instantaneous.

Orion Health
Managing patients in the community through virtual care – Healthcare costs are rising, driven by an aging population and a growing number of people afflicted by complex chronic diseases. Healthcare organizations need to provide care for more patients who require more intensive and expensive interventions. The only way for health systems to survive in the long run is to gain involvement and engagement from patients in their care.

Synzi
The Promise of Virtual Care in Palliative Care – Palliative care for at-home patients can improve quality of life for patients with complex needs. According to the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), palliative care teams partner with primary physicians to provide patients with a better quality of life and lower symptom burden:

How Virtual Care Can Prepare Patients for Home Health Care – Throughout the many stages of the care continuum, virtual care can improve patient expectations pre-discharge by preparing them for future changes. This includes discussing the timeliness and modality of how information is transferred between the patient and caregivers, as well as setting realistic expectations prior to changing the care setting for the patient.

How Virtual Care Helps Home Health Agencies Partner with Post-Acute Care Facilities – Home healthcare is not limited to supporting at-home patients. Patients may be receiving home healthcare services whether they are living at home, temporarily residing in a post-acute care facility, or residing in a longer-term care facility. Home health agencies are increasingly working with care facilities – such a SNFs and ALFs – to provide needed care for their residents while helping these residents remain in these facilities instead of being readmitted to a hospital or being transferred to a higher level of care.

GlobalMed

Several interesting articles on Virtual Care have been posted on GlobalMed, click on the links below to check them out.

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.

AHIP Institute

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.