Demand for Telemedicine Continues
More Patients Choosing Telehealth
Over Office Visits
Iowa healthcare providers report that the demand for telemedicine remains higher than ever.
Last year, fear of COVID-19 was the impetus behind the initial surge in telehealth across the state. But even though most clinics and other healthcare services are now open and receiving patients, telemedicine is still preferred in many cases.
Pandemic-Fueled Technology
In 2020, the AMA reported that
60% to 90
of physicians nationally were relying on telemedicine during the pandemic. In Iowa, UnityPoint Health saw telehealth visits increase from 6,700 in the months before COVID to more than 174,000 during the pandemic. And Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids reported 49,000 telehealth visits between March and December 2020, compared to less than 1,000 for all of 2019.
This demand fueled the development of much more sophisticated telehealth platforms. Providers can now diagnose and treat patients via high-resolution, secure video. The new technology also allows:
- Sharing of medical images and health data,
- Real-time online chats,
- E-prescribing services, and
- Medical device integration.
In addition to connecting providers to patients, high-tech innovations are being used to connect providers to other providers. And to connect a single patient to more than one provider, such as when seeking a second opinion.
A Boon to Rural and Underserved Areas
Telemedicine advocates have long promoted it as a potential solution for improved access to healthcare services, especially in rural areas with limited resources. (See sidebar, “Rural Iowa Healthcare.”)
Rural Iowa
Healthcare
Forty percent of Iowans reside in rural communities. As of January 2021, they have access to the following healthcare facilities:
- 82 critical access hospitals
- 199 rural health clinics
- 47 federally qualified health center sites located outside of urbanized areas
- 14 short-term hospitals located outside of urbanized areas.
Source: Rural Health Information Hub
But reliable broadband internet access is a prerequisite to providing telehealth to rural populations. And although Iowa’s broadband coverage is relatively even throughout the state, its download speed is the second slowest in the country. (Only Alaska is slower.)
Even so, medical specialists throughout the state have noticed a surge in telemedicine preference among their more rural patients. Rather than drive long distances to see a specialist, patients are consulting with their doctors from the comfort of their own homes, or even their cars.
Primary care and post-operative follow-up visits also lend themselves well to telemedicine, as long as no medical procedure is required.
Benefits to Providers
Because of the convenience telemedicine offers to patients, providers are noticing a decrease in no-show and cancellation rates, which is helping them stay on schedule. Virtual visits take less time, allowing providers to increase their efficiency and treat more patients.
Telehealth also allows physicians to reach out to their patients regularly to ensure proper management of their condition. And whenever providers can easily meet with their patients, they report increased job satisfaction. What's more, telemedicine has been shown to reduce overall healthcare costs by about 20 percent.
Getting Paid
Oftentimes patients pay for their virtual visits directly. However, most states (including Iowa) require health insurance companies to cover telemedical services in the same manner that they cover services delivered in person. Likewise, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to pay for virtual visits at the same rate as office visits while the COVID pandemic continues.
Several real-time telehealth platforms include a billing component, allowing healthcare providers to collect payments and file claims. Such platforms can be integrated with the provider’s electronic health record (EHR). In all cases, the documentation for virtual visits must meet the same criteria as in-person visits, in order to qualify for payment.
--Article Continues Below--
Potential Drawbacks and Barriers
But telehealth cannot recreate the hands-on component of a standard office visit. Nor can patients undergo procedures or imaging tests remotely. As a result, diagnosis can be more difficult. And, of course, patients who require urgent medical attention must always be seen in person.
Additionally, some providers are concerned that poor broadband connections and other technical problems could have serious repercussions.
For instance, a disconnected virtual consultation could result in a patient following the wrong treatment regimen.
Lack of familiarity with technology is another potential barrier. Elderly patients or those who are not tech-savvy may need to be walked through a virtual meeting. Most physicians have neither the time nor the staff to deal with IT issues before initiating a virtual visit.
Healthcare’s Future?
Despite limitations, telehealth is often the best alternative for patients who are unable or unwilling to schedule an in-person visit. It allows providers to consult with and treat patients who reside miles away. It can offer improved access to better care.
It could very well be the future of healthcare.
Sources:
Featured Image: Adobe, License Granted
Animated Image:
Giphy.com
CDC
American Medical Association
Cureatr
Becker's Hospital Review
Recent Posts
Share On: