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Author Archives: securemedical

18
Nov
Date November 18, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

How Relaxed Rules for Opioid-Related Telehealth Impacts Lives. 

Opioid overdose remains a massive threat to the population, with tens of thousands of people dying yearly. This is why doctors working with patients experiencing opioid use disorder across the country continue to vouch for telehealth rules to remain flexible, especially ones about opioid addiction and use. Maximizing telehealth resources create a link between patients struggling with opioid use and the health they so desperately need.

Before the pandemic began in 2020, medical practitioners had the authority to prescribe certain drugs only after physically interacting with the patient. This included medications like methadone and buprenorphine, which were popularly known as opioid disorder medications. When the pandemic reached its climax, in-person visits to health facilities became limited and monitored. Most opioid patients would not get the help they required fast enough. To deal with this challenge, the existing laws were reconfigured to allow telehealth visits and prescriptions for controlled substances.

The simplistic nature of transaction using telehealth methods have made it easier to get help from far and wide. The issue remains the temporary nature of the rules surrounding controlled substance prescriptions. In a few months, when the government reverts to the physical visit rules, telehealth for opioid treatments becomes a thing of the past, and treatments become harder to fulfill. Because doctors will no longer be able to use video or online meetings to prescribe buprenorphine, the risk of opioid-related addictions ad deaths might increase again.

Conclusion

Doctors understand the risk tied to opioid usage. This is why they hope the government will maintain the current stance on telehealth and controlled drug prescriptions. After all, isn’t the essence of medicine to save lives? Allowing telehealth to continue functioning for buprenorphine and other controlled drugs should be a given.

Author securemedical
14
Nov
Date November 14, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

Transforming Telehealth for Older Adults

As the medical field continues to grow and evolve, research has proven that telemedicine providers are yet to fully tap into giving high-quality services. The industry is flooded with people who need these healthcare services; older adults will significantly benefit from such accessibility.
As part of the research process, the solution is for telemedicine providers to adhere to existing guidelines and set a higher bar in terms of services to ensure that older adults receive the best healthcare services possible.
There needs to be an improvement in the industry to reach older populations. When Covid struck, and physical meetings became taboo, the vulnerabilities within the telemedicine branch of healthcare became glaring. The system needs to redefine itself to serve its patients effectively in the future.
Studies and reports have shown how people over 65 interact with telemedicine but encounter challenges because of technical challenges and issues that hinder its availability.
What solution is offered to deal with this challenge? The answer provided is threefold, researches have suggested that telehealth systems need to be more people-centered to ensure all patients feel heard and connected. Secondly, the service needs to be equitable, inclusive, and accessible to people of all backgrounds and with all ailments and conditions. Lastly, the system must be integrated to incorporate each patient’s complete health plan to ease communication with practitioners and get the required help. At the same time, it is essential to equip practitioners with the necessary telemedicine skills to handle older adult patients.
As times change, telemedicine is becoming a focal point in medicine. The proper measures can help to break into the industry to provide the best and most available services for the older adults, who constitute the majority.

Author securemedical
07
Nov
Date November 7, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

High Blood Pressure Treatment Via Telehealth Is As Effective As Clinic Visits: Study Shows

Telehealthcare refers to remote medical care conducted through telecommunications, such as phone calls and videoconferencing by medical professionals. Fortunately, telehealth has been embraced in the modern world, and it’s now the best alternative to face-to-face clinic visits for hypertension management.

Almost half of the US adult population (45%) have high blood pressure. However, only one out of five adults can manage the condition. That said, it has become a mystery for scientists to control high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, despite understanding it’s the primary cause of cardiovascular-related deaths in the United States.

The patient is taught the basics, like testing the pressure and the type of meal to take. Usually, pharmacists or nurses conduct telehealth practices by monitoring blood pressure and offering other care practices through phone calls or video chats. Also, they have an excellent time consulting medical experts online and getting the necessary counseling.

Clinical Workforce specialist Robyn Weiss says they have many telehealth benefits like:

  • Connection to rural hypertension patients.
  • Reducing travel times.
  • Reduced wait time to see a health care provider.
  • Better access to bilingual patients’ interpreters.
  • Avoidance of “white coat hypertension” and stress.

During telehealth treatment, the patient should be well organized. Here are some of the ways to prepare, according to Robyn:

  • Be tagged with necessary technology like a portable camera and computer for video calls.
  • Write down questions to ask the professional beforehand.
  • Look for an insurance provider, although not all insurances cover telehealth.

Final Notes

Telehealthcare was embraced during the Covid 19 pandemic. And to reap the benefits of this health care, you need to have the best practices to control your blood pressure at home:

  1. Avoid caffeinated drinks and smoking before testing the pressure.
  2. It’s advisable to sit with your back and legs straight.
  3. Refrain from measuring the reading over clothes.

It would be best if you also embraced taking the readings at the same time of the day. A good time with a health professional will help you get lifestyle counseling, a vital aspect of hypertension care.

Author securemedical
31
Oct
Date October 31, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

The Efficacy of Telemedicine in Dermatology

The covid-19 pandemic presented a global health crisis, forcing the reduction of hospital visits and the implementation of telemedicine. Relevant stakeholders in the healthcare industry, including the WHO, recommended limiting social interactions as a strategy to control the increasing numbers of morbidity and mortality rates infections. The main advantage of restrictions on face-to-face clinical consultations was to preserve the health of medical practitioners delivering patient care by limiting occupational exposure to the virus.

Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, involves leveraging information and communication systems to enhance clinical outcomes and efficiency. This healthcare tool focuses on increasing access to care and medical information regardless of distance. Patients and clinicians only need access to technological solutions, including smart devices, teleconferencing, and emails.

What is Teleradiology?

Teleradiology involves the transmission of medical images for diagnostic or consultative purposes. An appropriate medical professional performs a comprehensive evaluation of these images to recognize signs of abnormalities and thus make a diagnosis before developing an ideal treatment plan. Although most patients have concerns regarding the efficacy of Telehealth in ensuring accurate skin diagnosis, there is growing evidence supporting care delivery through Telehealth because it allows efficient screening for precise diagnosis.

Telemedicine depends on the transmission of radiologic images (teleradiology). There is a comprehensive implementation of teleradiology in dermatological practice, primarily because it addresses a lack of adequate medical staff in rural areas. Technological advancements have promoted teleradiology by introducing solutions supporting Telehealth implementation. For example, the introduction of specialized computer programs supports sending, transmitting, and receiving radiological images, thus boosting efficiency and accuracy without skincare experts being present with patients.

The main benefit of implementing telemedicine services is the ability to provide medical services to patients with limited access to health care. Although Telehealth promotes global patient-clinician interaction allowing delivery of medical advice from a distance, there is a need for further research into appropriate types of telehealth applications, depending on target users and the specific skin care concerns. Relevant stakeholders in healthcare should also focus on developing and implementing simple Telehealth systems that are user-friendly to patients.

Author securemedical
24
Oct
Date October 24, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

Importance of Telehealth in Post-Surgery Care

The telehealth benefits are becoming more apparent daily as more people in rural communities access this innovative technology. It’s also becoming a more common part of post-surgery care for patients. This new system has already shown great promise for serving these communities and will play an essential role in the future.

New study findings show that patients offered virtual care before and after surgery are much more likely to attend their appointments than those who rely solely on in-person visits. Regular checkups at the clinic keep patients from needing emergency care, often sought after when their illness has worsened significantly.

Telehealth is helpful in the following areas: Maintaining contact with one’s health care provider to receive timely care before and after surgical procedures results in an increase in the level of care provided, a decrease in the overall costs incurred by the patient, and an increased likelihood the patient will achieve and keep a higher level of health.

What Causes No-Show Visits Among Patients?

The lack of reliable transportation is the leading cause of missed patient appointments. Healthcare providers can reach out to patients who, in other circumstances, would face difficulty gaining access to the healthcare system through telemedicine.

Telemedicine initiatives such as giving training to patients and providing more low-tech options, including audio-only, are more straightforward options. This is especially true for patients who stay far away from health facilities.

Author securemedical
17
Oct
Date October 17, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

With Mental Health Care Workers Declining Here’s How Tele-health Can Close The Gap

Telehealth provides medical services, health information, and health education through remote technologies.

Easier Access to Specialists

More than three-quarters of U.S. counties have a psychiatric shortage, and more than half of primary care clinicians have difficulty referring patients to psychiatric practitioners. Other mental health specialists, such as registered nurses and licensed medical social workers, are also in limited supply.

In alleviating the psychiatrist shortfall, the best approach will be to encourage more people to pursue careers in psychiatry first. This will mean providing good wages and working conditions and ensuring constructive time with patients.

Providers are eager to work hard, but they want to see results. To feel satisfied, behavioral health practitioners must communicate with patients. Telehealth enables psychiatrists to see patients nationwide.

Telehealth Alleviates Patient Access to Mental Healthcare

Due to the setting’s ability to give practitioners more control, telehealth is among the secrets to a better work-life balance. To regain that balance, healthcare providers can spend time with their families during breaks, socialize with their pets, prepare meals, or perform other household chores.

Telehealth reduces provider burnout by eradicating long commutes, which can be strenuous and expensive. It also allows practitioners to interact with patients from the comfort of their homes.

Offering coffee, a doctors’ lounge, and quiet meditation spaces are lovely touches. However, they don’t deal with the fundamental issue of helping clinicians reclaim a healthy work-life balance. Telehealth does so instantly and directly.

Convenience in Scheduling, Billing, and Prescribing

Patients have access to high-quality tele-psychiatrists 24/7 in the emergency room. This reduces wait times, and ED stays. Psychiatric patients stay three times longer than non – psychiatric patients.

With telepsychiatry, emergency room doctors can get the advice they need to treat patients with severe mental health crises. Tele-psychiatry also provides substantial cost savings by reducing the need for psychiatric boarding.

Author securemedical
10
Oct
Date October 10, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

The Future Could Be Telemedicine: Significant Trends

The Future of Telemedicine is Here!

Technology is changing the medical scene, and it is happening fast. Various remarkable telehealth trends continue to promote effective care coordination and patient involvement. These services have also made it easier for patients to adjust to the new norm of virtual meetings and remote operations without undermining the quality of services. It is interesting to see that more stakeholders are taking it a notch higher to add to the transformation of the health sector through telehealth services. For example, predictions indicate that the FDA will likely allow more self-test products. Additionally, the regulatory bodies incorporate virtual site visits and invest in more robust quality systems to contribute to the ongoing trends.

Significant Trends in Digital Health care.

There is certainly plenty of digital solutions to look forward to regarding telehealth. Integrating AI, machine learning, and sophisticated security features have contributed considerably to the rise in numbers. The revenue stream has changed the language into things we did not see a few years back. Some notable contributions of technology include

  • Digital Self- service

The selling point of telehealth remains in its accessibility to both patients and doctors. The development of innovative medical devices and applications such as smart watches, blood glucose monitors, and fitness trackers provide feed databases with helpful information for improved patient care. Also, innovations like the digital twins help keep track of vital information and promote quality healthcare by supporting decision-making.

  • In Silico medicine

Treatment testing on animals and humans may soon be a thing of the past thanks to in silico computational models and simulations. This technology empowers researchers to evaluate and improve new devices in various clinical environments within a shorter time while ensuring safety.

  • AI, Cloud, and IoT infrastructures

AI, Cloud, and IoT-based infrastructures are not new to other industries. Although creeping in conservatively, these principles are expected to bring new possibilities. For example, AI models could help achieve the extremes, such as delivering feedback from the brain to restore lost body functions such as touch for paralyzed persons. We can see a quality restoration from connecting medical devices via the Cloud to having your data everywhere.

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. Telemedicine may not have been a new concept in the medical field before the onset of Covid-19, but it has undoubtedly revolutionized operations in various field sectors. However, the pandemic only jump-started a faster drive into the future through these telehealth solutions.

Author securemedical
03
Oct
Date October 3, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

Do Telemedicine Diagnoses Match Those of In-Person Doctor Visits?

Telemedicine is expanding everywhere, especially since the Covid pandemic. Although many people are participating in telemedicine, one fundamental question remains. “Can diagnosing through telemedicine be as accurate as an in-person medical visit? Answering the question will give more information on telemedicine’s effectiveness and make more people comfortable. Read on to find out if the diagnoses match.

It Depends On The Illness

Mayo Clinic did a study where they discovered eighty-seven percent of preliminary diagnoses were confirmed during in-person doctor visits. They also found that the accuracy of the results often depends on the illness.

There are many conditions that doctors can diagnose via telemedicine by hearing patients describe their symptoms. On the other hand, there are conditions where a physical exam or medical tests like imaging are necessary to confirm a diagnosis, for example, skin conditions and sports injuries which are best diagnosed during in-person visits.

Contrarily, telemedicine diagnoses were very beneficial for mental health cases because establishing diagnoses for mental health disorders is mainly done via conversation. Mental health cases had an almost 100% confirmation rate from telemedicine to in-person visits.

According to the study, Mayo Clinic researchers found that there are cases that can be diagnosed entirely by telemedicine and match in-person visits. However, telemedicine should only be an entry point to further personal care for other issues.

Effect On Overall Healthcare

How telemedicine contributes to overall healthcare is still yet to be ascertained, and more studies like the one by Mayo Clinic are necessary. With more use of telemedicine, diagnosis accuracy should increase.

Telemedicine allows more people to access healthcare, especially in remote environments. However, more study is required to determine the best times to use telemedicine.

As hospitals get better at selecting patients for telemedicine, so will the accuracy of diagnoses.

Author securemedical
23
Sep
Date September 23, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

Effects Of Telehealth Services On ER Visits For The Disabled

What Is Telehealth?

Telehealth healthcare is administered through technology. This connects patients and health providers without the need for face-to-face appointments. Telehealth can be used in various ways, including video conferencing, emailing medical records, or using an app to make appointments.

How Telehealth Services Reduces ER Visits For The Disabled.

Telehealth services reduce ER visits for the disabled by allowing them to get medical care without going to an in-person appointment.

One of the most significant benefits of telehealth services is that they can help reduce emergency room visits for the disabled. Telehealth services give doctors and nurses a way to communicate quickly with patients, which means they can offer healthcare more timely. This can help prevent ER visits and reduce wait times in the ER when needed.

Telehealth services are increasingly used to treat patients with disabilities, and the results are promising. The most common reason people visit emergency rooms is acute illness or injury. Statistics show that the disabled are especially likely to frequent emergency department and hospital visits. Telehealth services are catching up in providing health care consultation to these individuals in an affordable manner.

It can be challenging for disabled people to get the care they need. The most common reason disabled people visit the emergency room is that they need to gain access to the necessary maintenance at specific times.

Telehealth services are changing all of that. By allowing patients to connect with specialists remotely, telehealth will enable patients who otherwise might have to wait hours in the ER or be admitted for a hospital stay to receive quick and effective care from their homes.

This means fewer visits to ERs, which means less congestion and less wait time for everyone else.

A study by Columbia University found that telehealth services can reduce ER visits by an average of 6%. This is because when patients have access to telehealth, their doctor can prescribe the necessary medication without meeting the patient in person.

It is also an excellent way for disabled people who live in remote areas or in rural communities where doctors are hard to come by to get easy access to healthcare without having to travel long distances.

Conclusion.

The effects of telehealth services on ER visits for the disabled are mainly positive. The study shows that in areas where telehealth is more prevalent, there is a lower rate of emergency room visits for the disabled, which means fewer hospital stays and lower costs.

Author securemedical
09
Sep
Date September 9, 2022
Categories Telemedicine

2023 Healthcare Changes Influenced by Advancing Telemedicine Tech

This multi-billion industry is improving service delivery to bridge the gap between hospitals and homes. There are many reasons for this trend:

  1. Telehealth improves care access, especially for rural and underserved patients.
  2. It can help reduce costs by reducing the need for unnecessary office visits and hospitalizations.
  3. Providing more convenient and flexible care can improve patient engagement and satisfaction.

So what can we expect from telehealth in 2023? Here are three shifts to watch out for:

Increased Use of AI and Machine Learning

As telehealth technology becomes more sophisticated, we can expect more artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to support care delivery. For example, AI can automatically schedule appointments, track patient progress, and provide reminders for medication adherence. Machine learning can predict patient outcomes and identify early warning signs of disease.

More Focus On Chronic Disease Management

Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and COPD account for most healthcare costs in the US. Telehealth can be crucial in managing these conditions by providing regular check-ins with patients, monitoring vital signs, and providing education and support. We can expect to see more telehealth programs focused on chronic disease management in 2023

Greater Integration with Electronic Health Records

One of the challenges of telehealth has been the lack of integration with existing electronic health records. This is slowly changing, and we expect greater EHR integration in 2023. This will make it easier for care providers to access patient data, schedule appointments, and coordinate care. Also, patients can view their health information from any device, making tracking progress and managing their health more accessible.

Telehealth is revolutionizing the healthcare industry and changing how we think about care delivery. These three shifts will help make telehealth more accessible, effective, and efficient in the years to come. Workers in the industry also stand to benefit from efficiency gains and improved job satisfaction. But most importantly, they will improve the quality of care for patients across the country.

Author securemedical
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