Page 27 - Delaware Medical Journal - July 2017
P. 27
TELEHEALTH
PROS AND CONS
takes an average of 68 minutes per patient, from check-in to check
out. The patient spends almost half of that time waiting. On the other hand, the average telemedicine visit takes only 17 minutes from log-on to log-off, with virtually no waiting time. It takes approximately 2 minutes to download the app and log-in.
In addition, basically all of the time during a telemedicine visit is spent with the clinician. This contrasts with an in-person visit, during which the patient spends only approximately 10 of the 68 minutes with the
• No travel time or expense
• No parking hassles or fees
• Less time missed from work or school • Less contact with other sick individuals
is needed to evaluate the patient) and less utilization of resources (such as paper, clinic space, or electricity). As an innovative technology, telemedicine also presents unique marketing and research opportunities.
However, we have noted a few drawbacks to telemedicine. Patients
somewhat challenging to use. Some patients prefer face-to-face discussions and interactions with their health care professionals. The biggest concerns for hospital systems and orthopaedic departments tends to be billing and legal issues, as well as the staff learning curve.
In my home state of Delaware, most insurance carriers recognize telemedicine visits and reimburse appropriately. However, policies governing telemedicine reimbursement are state-dependent, and I would encourage physicians to speak with their hospital administrators and state representatives before performing telemedicine visits. In addition, bear in mind that, if the telemedicine visit crosses state lines (the patient in one state and the physician in another), the physician must be licensed in the state in which the patient is located.
THE FUTURE IS NOW
Although I don’t think telemedicine will replace traditional, in-person clinical visits anytime soon, I do believe that it can be
used to augment traditional health care and streamline the patient experience. Looking toward the future, I can envision other uses for telemedicine, including the following:
• Sports sideline coverage and virtual training rooms
• Virtual patient triage and scheduling
• Virtual coverage of urgent care and emergency departments
• On-demand orthopaedic consultations with physical therapists,
athletic trainers, and primary care doctors
As the health care landscape continues to evolve and the emphasis on value and satisfaction continues to grow, telemedicine may be used by health care professionals to control costs and resource care. Most patients spend a tremendous amount of time getting what they need on mobile devices. It’s only a matter of time before health care is routinely delivered in that fashion as well.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
ALFRED ATANDA JR., MD is a Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon at A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del.
Getting involved with telemedicine
The following steps can help you get started with telemedicine visits.
• Discuss telemedicine with your department head and/or hospital administrator. Point out the benefits and be ready to answer questions about costs and implementation.
• Ask billing questions. Find out whether insurers in your state will reimburse for telemedicine visits, and what requirements must be met.
• Evaluate hardware options. Do you primarily use a desktop, laptop, or tablet? How easy would it be to add telemedicine to your current programs?
• Evaluate different platforms. Look for one that has the features you need, is easy for the patient to use, offers training for your staff, and provides adequate security to meet current patient privacy regulations.
• Examine your patient population. Would your patients
be amenable to telemedicine visits? Are most of them comfortable with the technology? Do they have access to mobile devices in their homes?
• Establish a pilot program. Develop a set of guidelines defining patient populations for whom telemedicine is a viable option. Collect feedback from patients and use the data to adjust your guidelines and operations.
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