Telehealth is bringing changes in healthcare by offering patients an opportunity to receive medical services without being physically present. Imagine a patient in a village could perhaps be treated by a doctor who is many miles away via electronic communication, such as phone and video calls, without having to travel the distance.
This is just one of the examples of telemedicine services, a subset of telehealth that refers to the use of technology to provide clinical healthcare services remotely. This, indeed, highlights the significant benefits telehealth can provide to patients. As the healthcare industry grows, telehealth is an essential way of increasing access, decreasing costs, and improving service quality.
This blog will explore different telehealth examples, showing how it has been implemented and used in different scenarios and analyze how this technology is trying to redefine the future of the healthcare industry.
Telehealth addresses various types of services designed to meet diverse health needs. Each type has benefits and uses over the other, helping to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare workers regardless of location. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable telehealth types to understand how various telehealth services are utilized.
Synchronous (Live) Telehealth
Synchronous telehealth entails face-to-face consultation between a patient and a healthcare provider through real-time chat and virtual therapy sessions. This type can be immediately responded to; thus, useful for consultation, review visits, and even the emergency services.
For instance, patients can consult the specialist through a live video session without moving physically and get the necessary advice regarding their health. Teladoc software is a good choice that offers this type of telehealth services.
Asynchronous (Store And Forward) Telehealth
Asynchronous type of telehealth, also known as store-and-forward, enables the healthcare provider to examine the patient data at a convenient time. Patients upload string data such as pictures and test results which are then escalated to the practitioner. This type of telehealth is most effective in dermatology, radiology, and pathology, since analysis of medical records can be made without interacting in real-time session.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Telehealth
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows healthcare providers to track a patient's health data in real time from the comfort of the patient's home. Machines such as heart and blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and other similar devices capture data and relay it to healthcare professionals to enable timely monitoring and management of chronic diseases.
For instance, RPM can be used by a patient with diabetes to monitor his blood sugar levels, a situation that would not often require a physical visit to the clinic.
Mobile Telehealth (mHealth)
Mobile telehealth, or mHealth, is a healthcare service accessed through mobile applications and wearable devices. Patients can use these apps to access health information, monitor their conditions, and even interact with doctors. This type of telehealth is commonly used for health education, preventive services, and chronic disease management.
For example, telemedicine apps allow patients to have video consultations with healthcare providers, receive medication reminders, and log their compliance. These telemedicine examples highlight how mHealth makes healthcare more accessible and personalized, enabling patients to manage their health more effectively from anywhere.
Telehealth In Rehabilitation Services
Telehealth is now more commonly applied in rehabilitation services, which include physical, occupational, and speech therapy, among others. Patients can get information about the exercises suitable for them and their outcomes and interact with their therapists without leaving the comfort of their homes.
For example, a patient might use telehealth after surgery to consult with a physical therapist to make sure that he or she does all the exercises appropriately and modify the exercises depending on his or her condition.
All these types of telehealth services are key components of delivering care, improving patients’ experiences and outcomes, and transforming the use of technology in healthcare.
Let’s explore seven practical telehealth use cases that will explain the versatility and influence of telehealth in practical scenarios:
Chronic Disease Management
Telehealth has been found to be efficient in managing chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and COPD. A telehealth program example might include daily phone and video sessions that may require elderly patients to report their blood pressure, glucose levels, etc.
It increases the chances of constantly assessing the patient’s condition and develops early interventions so that their ailment can be well managed. eClinicalWorks EMR is a good healthcare software for catering to such telehealth usage.
Post-Surgical Follow-Up
Surgical patients may require routine checkups to ensure that their bodies are healing well. These checkups can be conducted through telehealth, which reduces the need for travel and physical contact. Another use of telehealth includes video consultations where patients may describe their recovery process, and physicians can assess healing incisions. It reduces the chance of complications and increases the patient’s comfort.
Mental Health Counseling
Another common telehealth and telemedicine example includes mental health counseling. Telehealth has been instrumental in improving mental health services considerably over the last few years. For example, a telehealth use case is when patients attend therapy sessions over EDI-secured video conferencing systems.
This model was especially helpful during the pandemic, when patients requiring mental health services remained connected without violating social distancing guidelines. The importance of telehealth for mental health practices has proven to be vital throughout the years due to its ability to continue care amidst difficulties.
Remote Consultations In Rural Areas
In rural or less developed regions, people often face difficulties in getting proper access to specialist healthcare services. Telehealth serves as a solution to this problem since it gives patients an opportunity to reach out to specialists. An example of this would be a patient in a rural area getting the opinion of a cardiologist via teleconsultation, meaning that the patient would not have to travel long distances to receive specialist advice.
Pediatric Care
Telehealth is becoming more integrated into pediatric care, mainly for minor ailments or follow-up appointments. For instance, a parent can talk with a pediatrician via video call about their child’s ailment without the need to move to a clinic. This telehealth program example shows how telehealth can make it easier for families to obtain the care they need.
Remote Physical Therapy
Telehealth can be useful for patients in physical therapy as they can be taught new exercises through video calls. It is useful for people with mobility limitations or people living in remote areas from therapy centers. A telehealth use case in this scenario may involve a therapist demonstrating exercises to a patient and correcting the patient’s form in real-time.
School-Based Telehealth Programs
Telehealth is also active in schools to deliver healthcare services to the students. An example of this role is a school-nurse who can consult with a physician through telehealth to address health issues of a student at school. This helps in receiving appropriate care on time and minimizes the stay away from work due to sickness.
These telehealth program examples prove how telehealth is being applied across healthcare facilities and settings to increase the level of patient care.
There are various obstacles to telehealth implementation, but feasible alternatives are available for each:
1.Technological Barriers
2. Provider Resistance
3. Reimbursement Issues
4. Privacy Concerns
Addressing these challenges with workable solutions means that telehealth can be embodied into these practices efficiently.
Understanding the legal requirements that surround the use of telehealth is paramount for healthcare professionals to avoid legal implications and secure patients’ details. Some of the major regulations include HIPAA in the USA that has set the legal requirements for protection of privacy and security of telehealth services.
Also, implementing telehealth programs has certain legal structures that must be followed, such as licensure and cross-state practice by state law. Adhering to these regulations not only safeguards the interests of the patients, but also gives the clients confidence in telehealth services, making it a legal form of service delivery.
Telehealth is rapidly advancing patient care by improving access and the delivery of health care throughout the continuum. The use of telehealth can be seen throughout all steps, ranging from disease management to remote consultations.
With the changes in society, adopting telehealth solutions will enable better services to be offered to patients and increase efficiency. Discover telehealth solutions today or contact our specialists at Software Finder to determine the best choice for your practice.
