As COVID 19 struck the United States, healthcare providers faced drastic changes to the healthcare system. One of those changes was the zealous takeover of telehealth. Even though many healthcare organizations were already using some type of telehealth technology prior to COVID 19, it still was quite a surprise for the majority of healthcare providers that brought on a tad bit of a technological learning curve.

Telehealth vs. Telemedicine: What’s The Difference?

One of the earliest uses of telemedicine was in 1950’s and early 1960’s when a closed-circuit television link was established as being established between the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute and Norfolk state hospital for psychiatric consultations. The Health Resources Administration defines telehealth as the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long distance clinical health care, patient and professional health related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include videoconferencing, the internet store-and-forward imaging, streaming media and wireless communications. A healthcare provider in one infrastructure uses telecommunications to deliver healthcare services to a patient typically in a rural location.

So, what’s the difference? Although both telehealth and telemedicine basically fulfill the same goals, telemedical refers specifically to remote clinical services while telehealth can refer to non-clinical services. These non-clinical services include provider training, continuing medical education, or public health education, administrative meetings, and electronic information sharing to facilitate and support assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education and care management.

Better Access To Healthcare

The main promise of telehealth is greater access to healthcare especially in the underserved populations. Currently, the 2 most common forms of technology being utilized in telehealth are telephone communications and video communications.  There is a widespread belief that healthcare costs can be reduced, while improving patient healthcare outcomes. Telehealth allows for better 2-way communication with healthcare providers.

The Real World Of Telehealth

“I’ve seen it all now. Telehealth patient smoked on a visit today and last week a lady sipped a cocktail,” stated a Family Nurse Practitioner in a recent Nurse Practitioner Facebook forum. Many Nurse Practitioners were sharing their telemedicine stories on various forums as telehealth made its COVID-19 debut. Some stories were quite comical while others incredibly insightful.

“I was visiting with a patient who had uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus for years. I noticed a box of cornstarch on an end table in the living room as I was having a tele visit with her,” remarked a nurse practitioner on the Facebook forum. “I assumed she had a rash, so I asked her about the cornstarch. ‘Oh that? That’s my snack!’ she said. I further found out that she has been eating 3-4 boxes of cornstarch a day for more than 25 years.”

Hidden gems that can potentially save a persons life like these may go unseen in a normal day to day clinical setting. Telehealth captures patients in their natural habitat, most likely their home environment where they feel comfortable to be themselves. In a sense it’s like watching a reality TV show, which may lead healthcare practitioners to better understand their patients and detect interesting answers to complex problems.

The Pros And Cons

The benefits to telehealth are many. In the past there were several barriers to telehealth such as licensing and reimbursement.  On March 17, 2020, the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights stated that no penalties would be imposed for the good faith provision of telemedicine during the COVID‐19 public health emergency, even if the technologies used may not fully comply with HIPAA requirements. The CMS announced on April 30, 2020, it would temporarily increase payments for telephone visits to match in‐person and video visits. Barriers to interstate licensure have largely been lifted. Most states have momentarily waived interstate licensure requirements. Other states have allowed rapid provision of medical licensure during the current public health emergency.

 Some Other Pros Include:

-Lower transportation costs for patients in rural areas

-Reduce worker absences

-Improve access to specialty care

-Decrease office no shows for office providers

-Better patient outcomes

 A few important ‘cons’ to consider:

-Technical training and equipment: Some patients may not have access to telehealth services. Also, there is a technology learning curve to be addressed with both patients and providers.

-Time and Costs: It takes time for providers to learn different forms of technology as well restructuring IT support as well as purchasing equipment.

-Accessibility to patient records, privacy and continuity of care: Patient privacy must be given thoughtful consideration with telehealth.

-Fewer in person visits: The human one to one in person connection may be lost. Also, vulnerable patients with no access to technology may be left behind.

-Healthcare laws, licensing, credentialing and reimbursement: Although many restrictions that were in place before the emergency COVIID19 pandemic cleared much of the red tape that these issues brought into telehealth, all providers need to be aware of them in future as things shift.

It might take some getting used to, but it looks like telehealth is here to stay and the new ‘normal.’ A tip for health care providers using new technology for the first time is to keep an open mind when using telehealth, and not be so hard on yourself. It’s easy to get frustrated with new technology. Remember, with everything new, comes a learning curve. Keep in mind you are experiencing new territories and getting a better picture of your patients natural environment. Those natural environments and the hidden treasures that they hold, can actually help you save their lives and make a you a better healthcare provider.  

Who are we? MedCare Staffing is a small, veteran-owned, family-oriented team. We start every day with gratitude because we LOVE what we do! We are a team on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and providers.

What we do: We place Physicians, Dentists & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs

To contact MedCare Staffing, call 888.474.3380 or visit or website by clicking here!

Ersilia Pompilio RN, MSN, PNP

References

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1. A Good Quality Webcam

While a webcam is not technically considered telemedicine equipment, excellent video quality that comes with a good webcam can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful virtual visit. Not only does a high-quality video present a professional image to patients, but it helps to ensure a more accurate assessment of the patient and ensure clear communication. For those facilities that have multiple telemedicine rooms, a higher-end consumer-grade webcam may be expensive but is an overall worth-it expense. Not all telemedicine consultations require such high-quality video, but those that do can benefit from a good webcam, such as a dermatologist.

2. Reliable High-Speed Internet

Once you’ve chosen your webcam, it’s time to check on your internet connectivity. Internet speed and bandwidth are crucial to both delivering data to and receiving data from patients. To ensure that your internet is both reliable and capable of supporting telemedicine, check with your service provider and see if they can provide you with the bandwidth you’ll need. Your internet provider should be able to configure your network correctly, so it works best with the ‘two-way’ traffic that telemedicine calls require. The influx of uploading and downloading that is necessary when video conferencing requires a sufficient network to support it. Your internet provider should be able to give you solutions that will help you to maintain a higher level of network reliability without spending enormous amounts of money on networking equipment and services.

3. Digital Medical Scopes and Other Accessories

Digital stethoscopes are the functional, high-tech tool that telemedicine has been waiting for. The digital stethoscope works by using the microphone on the patient’s device to capture and stream audio files to the provider. This requires very little from the provider except for a pair of high-quality, over the ear headphones, and allows them to analyze the audio data in real-time. If providers and their facilities wish to keep these audio files for future study or reference, they may want to consider investing in a HIPAA-compliant network file storage system.

4. Tablets

Tablets are the perfect tool for any healthcare facility to invest money in. They are incredibly versatile, which makes it easier to adapt to any practice with just the download of an app or hardware purchase. Providers can use the tablet as an advanced clipboard, allowing them to take detailed notes that are transferred efficiently to an electronic health record system. Many digital health accessories, such as the digital stethoscope, have apps that allow medical providers to transmit, store, and then analyze their patients’ data. While a tablet can’t take the place of a PC, it can be a vital tool in the workplace. 

5. Visual Aids

Just as visual aids are used in an in-person visit, they can also have the same use in a telemedicine visit. Common aids such as pain scales, portion size guides, can help ensure that telemedicine visits run smoothly, efficiently, and quickly. For visual aids to be useful in telemedicine, they need to be large and clear enough to see in a video chat window or be shared through a digital screen-share in their digital form. These familiar aids can help to act as reminders that telemedicine, while it may be new, can be just as useful as a traditional appointment.

Are you considering Telemedicine? Contact a team member at MedCare Staffing today and let’s start the conversation.

Who are we? MedCare Staffing is a small, veteran-owned, family-oriented team. We start every day with gratitude because we LOVE what we do! We are a team on a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and providers.

What we do: We place Physicians, Dentists & Advanced Practitioners in Locum Tenens, Contract Positions and Permanent Jobs

To contact MedCare Staffing, call 888.474.3380 or visit or website by clicking here!

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People are becoming increasingly more comfortable with merging technology and life, from electronic banking, to online shopping, to reading books digitally. It’s safe to say that pursuing electronic healthcare is naturally the next step.

While a hands-on approach to patient care is still necessary in many cases, the telehealth phenomenon is proving to greatly enhance the traditional medicine practice. Telehealth is the practice of consulting with patients remotely, and in turn providing cost-effective and convenient healthcare to a broader patient base. In fact, this fast growing, multi-billion-dollar industry is projected to grow nearly 14% by the year 2025, according to a study by Transparency Market Research.

But behind the impressive numbers are real people whose lives are being changed.

Patients no longer have to wait weeks or even months in between check-ups and important follow-up appointments. Rural location will no longer stop a patient from receiving specialized care. A lack of education no longer stands between patients and their health.

By joining MedCare Staffing’s Telehealth team, you can be a part of that success!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TELEMEDICINE FOR PROVIDERS?

1. Earn additional income:

Paying off student loans, saving for your kids’ college, or taking that dream vacation isn’t too far out of reach, and you won’t need a brand new side hustle to make it a reality. Use your experience, education, and passion in your down-time, and get paid for it! Waiting in carline to pick up the kids? Getting an oil change? No plans on a Saturday? Consult with patients and earn extra income. Your dreams are within your reach.

2. Create a better work/life balance:

It’s no secret that being a healthcare provider in today’s fast-paced society has its challenges. Combined with family obligations, extra curricular activities, and personal hobbies, life can seem unmanageable at times. However, being a telemedicine provider can help you create your own work schedule, all while managing your home life and other professional duties. When you join our telehealth team, you can decide how much you want to work. Your involvement can ebb and flow with the demands of your life.

3. Increase your job satisfaction:

While there is certainly a physician shortage, even scarier is the infamous ‘physician burnout.’ The job has become increasingly stressful and political, to a point where healthcare facilities and practices are losing reliable providers. If you feel overworked and undervalued, it might be time for a change. By joining MedCare Staffing’s Telehealth team, YOU will be the driving force behind your availability. Utilize the platform as supplemental income or dive in deep as a full-time freelance physician.

4. Reach and impact more patients:

Imagine the people who go untreated from serious health issues or chronic conditions for one reason or another. Think about the thousands of people in rural or underserved areas who could benefit from virtual healthcare. Whether it be reduced travel time, decreased stress, or just the mere access to a healthcare provider, people are looking for better and more convenient ways to access patient care. This is especially true in cases where patients living in rural areas need a specialist’s care. Quite frankly, these patients are not able to gain the access they need or pay to travel to the given specialist. You could provide that solution for them. You could be the bridge between the obstacle and the solution. Joining MedCare Staffing’s Telehealth team could give you that purpose and satisfaction.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Telehealth is in its beginning stages, and it has already risen to a multi-billion dollar industry. Getting involved at the ground level would help position your own telemedicine trajectory. And since MedCare Staffing is always pursuing new telehealth adventures, being a part of our network would mean more opportunities and potential job flexibility for you. Gain access to our nationwide network, and get started on your future today.

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