by Kasei Augustine
Advances are made in the medical field on a continuous basis. We are always discovering something new, developing treatments or implementing procedures to improve efficiency and care. From cutting-edge medical equipment to electronic health records and patient portals, technology has drastically changed the way we practice medicine.
In the modern world, we are used to having access to everything at our fingertips. With telemedicine, we have exactly that – real-time access to medical professionals without leaving our homes. While there has been an increase in the usage of telehealth in recent times, barriers have continued to impede the full potential of this alternative practice. Now, with the pandemic forcing limited in-person contact and use of virtual care on the rise, both patients and providers have been recognizing the advantages.
Advantages to the Patient
Telehealth can provide many benefits to consumers. The obvious being pure convenience, the ability to consult a doctor from anywhere. With better access also comes better management of overall health since patients can communicate with a medical professional when necessary, not just when they can fit an in-person visit into their busy schedule. Since patients can take these video calls from the comfort of their own homes, they no longer need to spend money commuting to the clinic or hospital. They do not have to worry about childcare or taking valuable time off work. There is no more wasted time spent sitting in a waiting room.
For those that live in rural communities, telemedicine provides them with direct access to specialists that may be geographically distant. Instead of traveling, patients can save money and time by videoconferencing with these providers. In the same respect, telemedicine gives elderly patients an opportunity for regular follow-up care in situations where they otherwise may not have transportation to the office for frequent visits.
In the times of today, virtual encounters mean zero exposure for high-risk individuals to COVID-19 or any other illnesses that may be present in an office. It also means zero potential for the virtual patient to be exposing other patients or medical professionals to their own illness.
Advantages to the Provider
As providers adopt telehealth practices, they are bound to benefit in a variety of ways. Evaluating a patient virtually eliminates the need for professionals to travel from one location to the next, thereby increasing productivity. More patients can be seen in the same amount of time. This increased efficiency can lead to revenue gains for the practice without adding additional staff. On top of this, video calls are more often reimbursable compared to telephone services. The accessibility of telehealth typically results in lowered numbers of no-show appointments and last-minute cancellations, further preventing profit losses.
Offering telehealth services can help to improve the health of provider’s patients. Due to the convenience, patients will likely commit to scheduled follow-ups. These follow-up services allow providers to monitor vitals and other aspects remotely, track medication compliance, evaluate recovery from a recent hospital admission or complete a quick check-in to manage a chronic condition. With more frequent patient-provider connections, there will likely be fewer hospital admissions or lower length of stays.
For many providers, telemedicine can better the work/life balance. Instead of being tied down to the office, they have the flexibility to work from home or even travel. Having the ability to connect with a patient virtually, from anywhere, can provide a sense of comfort and ease any potential anxiety about taking time off. Providers can also make schedule changes, possibly adding hours outside the norm since they can offer services without being present in the office.
Current Availability and Usage
Telemedicine has been on a steady rise over recent years. As our world becomes more tech-focused, patients and providers look to video conferencing and other tools for faster, more accessible care. A national study of insurance claims found that telehealth usage grew 53% from 2016-2017. Likewise, an annual survey by the AHA found that 76% of U.S. hospitals reported connecting with patients through video and other technology in 2017, up from just 35% in 2010.
This year, we are already witnessing an even larger increase in usage due to the rapid adoption of telehealth practices following the onset of the pandemic. A study completed at a health system in NYC reported an explosive increase in telemedicine visits in response to COVID-19. From March 2-April 14, 2020, daily telemedicine visits in urgent care experienced a 135% increase (from 369.1 to 866.8 visits) and non-urgent care experienced a 4345% increase (from 94.7 to 4209.3 visits). With expansion of services, we will likely also see surge in the global market value. A report by Global Market Insights valued the telemedicine market at $45 billion in 2019. With a 19.3% CAGR from 2020-2026, the telemedicine market is projected at $175.5 billion by 2026.
Contributing to the current growth in numbers, the lifting of reimbursement restrictions from CMS has allowed more patients to participate in virtual care. Previously, Medicare would usually only reimburse for patients in remote areas without access to specialists. These patients had to be at an “originating site” like a medical office, hospital or health clinic while connecting with providers. Now, with loosened guidelines we are seeing better reimbursement of telehealth services and expansion of covered services. Similarly, the HHS has relaxed policies and is temporarily allowing non-HIPAA compliant tools to be used for virtual visits, like FaceTime or Skype.
Barriers to Overcome
Offering telehealth services does not always come easy. Rural areas may have bandwith issues preventing proper connections. Urban areas are not fool proof either, as providers may battle with internal firewalls or security settings. As we all have experienced at some point, technical issues of any kind always seem to arise at the most inopportune times. Technology must also be secure and HIPAA compliant in order to protect the vulnerability of patients.
Geographically speaking, compliance with provider practicing regulations can be complex. Each state medical board has their own regulations, so providers may not be able to practice across state lines. Additionally, reimbursement restrictions can negatively impact the patient populations that are able to receive telehealth services. Currently, it is unclear how regulations will change in the post-COVID world. Pressure may be put on CMS to keep at least some of the changes. While it is likely that we will see some tightening of restrictions again in the future, it is impossible to predict the extent.
Telehealth is living its Super Bowl moment. All eyes are on the industry waiting to see how the game ends. Some were thrown in abruptly, but the field is finally getting the notoriety it deserves. Of course, there are challenges that persist, as there are with any innovation. But how the medical field tackles these obstacles will determine the continued success of telehealth in the future.
