Over the past year, telehealth services have increased in popularity as doctors look for new way to provide care during the coronavirus crisis. In addition to making it possible for providers to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a wide range of conditions, telehealth software enables patients to receive quality care without having to leave the comfort of their home or office.
Although many people believe that telehealth is a relatively new concept, this isn’t actually true. Telemedicine technology has been around for over fifty years. Of course, telehealth services today look a lot different than they did when first introduced. Today, patients can use secure video conferencing telemedicine software to connect remotely with providers.
Modern telehealth solutions offer multiple features and may include several integrated telemedicine devices. Used for obtaining real-time information about a patient’s heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, and other important health metrics, telemedicine devices enable patients to take a proactive role in their healthcare management. It’s these features and more that have made telehealth services the preferred method for both patients and providers.
As technology changes and becomes more readily available, so do the possibilities and acceptance of telemedicine solutions. The following are this year’s top telehealth trends.
Rapid Telehealth Adoption
The adoption of telehealth services is expected to grow significantly as more patients become accustomed to connecting with providers via a secure telemedicine platform. This is already apparent in the U.S. where percentages of non-hospital, inpatient, emergency, and provider-to-provider telehealth services have grown by leaps and bounds over the past five years. These numbers will continue to grow as more providers and patients realize the benefits of a well-executed telehealth solution. In fact, healthcare providers that do not offer telehealth services will soon find it difficult to attract new patients.
Increased Telehealth Reimbursement
Up until recently, many health plans didn’t offer reimbursement for telehealth services. Fortunately, most health insurance companies today understand the cost savings and benefits of telehealth. In addition to wider acceptance and coverage among insurance carriers, 40 U.S. states now have parity laws in place to ensure private payer reimbursement for telemedicine services.
Telemedicine Becoming More Common Among Vulnerable Populations
Although most people assume that younger patients are more apt to adopt telehealth technology, it’s expected that telemedicine will be used more frequently to treat older and vulnerable patients. Telehealth Software enables providers to evaluate and treat patients regardless of their ability to travel to a healthcare office. This could prove especially beneficial when treating patients with chronic or serious diseases.
Introduction of New Telemedicine Devices
As more providers offer telemedicine services, we’ll likely see an increase in the number and types of available telemedicine devices. Used to capture important information about a patient, these devices allow the patient to check their vitals without having to enter a medical facility.
HIPAA Compliant Telehealth Solutions
Let’s Talk Interactive provides secure telehealth solutions designed to enable providers to reach more patients in less time and for less money than possible with in-person visits. Our HIPAA-compliant telehealth video conferencing office suite is fully customizable and includes numerous features designed to simplify scheduling, payments, and telehealth visits.
Please contact us for more information about our telehealth solutions.