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 Healthcare de Jure, host Matt Fisher (@Matt_R_Fisher) chats with Dr. Dean Smith, CMIO, GlobalMed discussing implementation and use of telemedicine including how increase remote access; how State Department experience influenced views and provided insights into systems across world.
Industry News:
VITAS® Healthcare Video Unveils The Evolution Of Technology In Hospice Over The Past 40 Years
The latest in a series of videos by VITAS® Healthcare (@VITAS), the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, chronicles the advances in hospice technology—from handwritten intake forms detailing patient information to today’s use of virtual/augmented reality therapy for patients—and shows the many ways the company has innovated care at the patient bedside over the last four decades.
Video Conferencing Equipment Expert, IVCi, Discusses Three Benefits of AV and Video Conferencing Technology in Healthcare
Modern healthcare requires modern solutions, and there’s no better technology with a place in healthcare than AV and video conferencing equipment. Video conferencing and AV set-ups are versatile technologies that have proven to be powerful tools in the formal business world, connecting worldwide offices to domestic offices and higher ups to global teams. However, there’s even more power to come from innovative AV tech in the healthcare industry. Video conferencing equipment expert, IVCi (@IVCiLLC), discusses in depth 3 major benefits of AV and video conferencing technology in healthcare. Read press release.
Medici Facilitates Telemedicine Teamwork with New Feature Enabling Group Consultations
Medici (@Medici_app), a mobile telehealth company, announced a new product feature that enables physicians to invite colleagues to participate in telemedicine consultations with patients. The new feature, Chat Collaboration, facilitates teamwork among physicians, enabling doctors to share their combined expertise and experience to enhance care delivery through telemedicine.
VeraSci Receives FDA Grant to Support Qualification of the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool
VeraSci (@_VeraSci), a provider of innovative scientific and biotechnology services, announced that they have received an FDA grant to conduct further research on the VRFCAT, their proprietary functional capacity assessment. The VRFCAT has recently been accepted into the FDA’s COA Qualification Program as a measure of functional capacity for schizophrenia treatment trials.
Eagle Telemedicine Provides Backup Support When Hurricanes Strike
Eagle Telemedicine (@EagleTelemed) announced that its telehospitalists stand ready to support its hospital partners in the path of Hurricane Dorian and throughout hurricane season when other catastrophic storms threaten to disrupt patient care on the East Coast.
Eden Health Becomes First Digitally Native Primary Care Provider To Achieve NCQA PCMH Recognition
Primary care and insurance navigation company Eden Health announced that it has earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Patient Centered Medical Home recognition. The result of a year of rigorous evaluation by the country’s premier healthcare quality assurance organization, the recognition is based on Eden Health’s innovative care delivery model that puts patients and their experience first. Eden Health is the first digitally native virtual and in-person primary care provider to commit to the rigorous and time-intensive process to be recognized as a PCMH.
To Read:
Synzi
Addressing PDGM 2020’s Therapy Changes with Virtual Care – Many home health agencies are currently struggling with how to address the compliance regulations which will be required under PDGM. One of the key concerns is how PDGM 2020 shifts home health reimbursement toward patient characteristics, thus eliminating therapy-visit volume as a determining factor in calculating reimbursements. As a result, therapy will no longer be a guaranteed revenue-driver.
Using a Communication Platform to Drive Immunization – According to the CDC, patients can be protected against serious diseases like shingles, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis B, and seasonal flu with critical vaccinations. Home health agencies play a key role in educating patients about the importance of vaccination. An agency can provide immunization reminders, refer patients to vaccine providers, and follow-up with patients to ensure vaccination. National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.
How Patient Activation Can Benefit from a Virtual Care Communication Platform – Patient activation is a critical element in the concept of patient-centered care. An activated patient is one who is informed, empowered and engaged in one’s care. Because an activated patient is more motivated to take control of his/her health, this patient practices optimal health behaviors, makes better care decisions – resulting in better outcomes and lower health care costs vs. less activated patients.
GlobalMed
Reducing No-Shows with Virtual Healthcare – Like death and taxes, nothing is certain in medical life except no-show appointments. Rates vary widely, but one study came up with an average no-show rate of 24.8 percent – which rises to 41.25 percent for Medicaid patients. It’s often quoted that no-shows cost the U.S. as much as $150 billion a year. Think about that in terms of an individual practice. For simplicity’s sake, let’s say your primary care practice sees 80 patients a day, with an average appointment cost of $100. If even 10 percent of patients fail to show up, you’ve lost $800 each day – or $16,000 every month.
79 Percent of Doctors Are Burned Out. Can Virtual Care Delivery Help? – A new study from InCrowd paints a disturbing picture about provider burnout and its effect on patient care. The survey of 320 PCPs and 319 specialists reveals that 79 percent of primary care physicians (PCPs) describe themselves as burned out, as do 57 percent of specialists. That’s a sharp rise from the 45 percent of doctors that reported burnout in an American Medical Association (AMA) survey in 2011.
Solving the Disconnections in Connected Care – Imagine that you’re a surgeon in a large hospital network. A patient has presented to the emergency department with a ruptured ovarian cyst; before you operate, you use the surgical suite’s telemedicine platform to consult with the patient’s gynecologist, who provides valuable history. However, when the patient visits your clinic for a follow-up appointment, you’re unable to conference her gynecologist at this time – because the clinic uses a different virtual health solution.
Several more interesting articles on Virtual Care have been posted on GlobalMed, click on the links below to check them out.
- 4 Ways Virtual Health is Transforming Specialty Care
- Understanding Telemedicine Reimbursement
- Bringing Telemedicine to the Microsoft’s Digital Transformation Showcase
- Telemedicine vs. In-Person Visits: Which is Higher Quality?
- Making Telemedicine Affordable for Every Budget
Upcoming Events:
HLTH: Create Health’s Future
The HLTH Conference is just around the corner! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation w/ these senior leaders. REGISTER NOW! Listeners of #HCNowRadio save $150 off a ticket to #HLTH2019 w/ code HNR150; @HLTHEVENT pic.twitter.com/rwLj5YccWT
— HITECH Answers (@HITECHAnswers) September 6, 2019
Telehealth: An RX for the Consumer Experience
Hosted by: American Telemedicine Association in conjunction with HLTH 2019 Create Health’s Future Event
When: October 27, 2019 9:00am – 12:00 pm
Registration information
Telehealth solutions include digital health, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual care, remote monitoring, and digital therapeutics (DTx), as well as ‘store-and-forward’ or asynchronous technologies that securely transmit data collected from wearables, sensors and other devices to help inform clinicians’ decisions throughout diagnosis and treatment. DTx, in particular, applies Telehealth technologies, alone or in combination with conventional drug therapies, to treat chronic conditions, change behaviors and reduce health care costs.
What are the trends, opportunities, technology-based interventions, and virtual tools and programs that hospitals, healthcare providers and life sciences companies are adopting to successfully leverage Telehealth digital health solutions?
Join ATA to explore how Telehealth and the emerging field of DTx are increasingly changing the way health care is delivered. Hear from Telehealth and digital therapeutics innovators and thought leaders, who will share insights into the most promising solutions and services that are enabling direct-to-consumer virtual care, remote monitoring and disease management practices, and deliver personalized medicine in real-time.
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.
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.