3. Who is using Telemedicine
Patients like using
telemedicine because it is
more convenient for them.
Telemedicine also makes it
easier to have a regular
checkup, especially for
those who have a hard time
getting out of bed or
dressing themselves. It also
can help the patient save on
the cost of having an in
home nurse to do these
regular checkups.
Patients
1
Doctors
tInsurance companies use
telemedicine to process
claims in a faster time. They
also benefit from the cost
efficiency in that the total
amount of insurance
payouts are less due to
more accurate claims being
submitted more quickly,
which can lead to a more
efficient processing the first
time the claim is done.
Insurance companies
Doctors are finding
telemedicine to be cost
effiecient in multiple ways.
Some of which are saving
time on canceled
appointments, having easier
monitoring of remote
patients, and by getting
faster results on tests.
Studies from UPMC Health
plan done in 2012, show
that facilities who use
telemedicine programs
have seen as much as a
160% return on all of their
investments compared to
facilities that do not use the
program
32
4. How it works
To you the patient.
This shows how healthcare can be brought to the patient versus the patient
going to the healthcare facility. It also demonstrates how different medical
devices can be monitored through the use of telemedicine capabilities.
Doctor
Medical site
Network
5. What are the benefits
of Telemedicine?
Improved Healthcare Access
Brings convenience to both the health professional and
the patient
Cost efficient
Ability to monitor patients from their home
Improved quality of healthcare
Multiple specialists can meet at one consultation for
efficiency
Faster communication between medical sites and
insurance companies
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6. Why Telemedicine is not more popular
1
This is a common occurrence with today’s technology due to insufficient connections, weather,
and remote locations. Also, computers are only as good as they are programmed to be, so it may
experience glitches if a computer program or product is not installed properly. Usually electronic
glitches will be experienced on the patient’s end as doctors will use the telemedicine network.
Electronic Glitches
There has been somewhat of a struggle to get physicians to realize the benefits that telemedicine
can bring them. They have also rejected the costly venture to updating to telemedicine systems.
Although, in more recent years this is piquing more doctors interest due to the ability to meet with
chronically ill patients and being able to reach a wider base of patients in a faster time which gives
them more business.
Physician resistance
Even though the use of telemedicine is a great way to provide faster care, it can also be
underassessed by the patient and the doctor. In some cases certain non-verbal cues can be missed,
and their is the possibility of misdiagnosing the patient since the health professional can not physically
touch them. This will have to be taken into consideration when doing any video or phone consultation.
Also, all systems need training, it can be hard for the specialist to understand how to relay the
information back to the patient or to use the equipment to do the appointment. The patient would have
to understand what buttons to press to activate the system on their side.
3 Inadequate assessment or training
2
7. Is Telemedicine safe for me to use?
There are many human advocacy groups
and not for profit agencies such as
Affiliated workers association that conduct
studies to ensure they are meeting the
needs and upholding their medical duties.
Most recently Affiliated workers
association did a study and found that
more than 70% of consultations can be
completed over the phone and found that
ones that have been done have been no
less effective than those done in the office.
Human advocacy groups
Telemedicine practices are governed
under the same guidelines as any
healthcare facility. CMS also oversees
and makes any requirements that need to
be followed and makes sure doctors do
not go outside of their practice. Doctors
are still required to uphold their integrity
and adhere to all privacy standards for
EHRs regulated and mandated by HIPAA.
Telemedicine is closely allied with HIT
standards but differentiates in that they
provide service and do not just deal with
the medical records.
Federal Guidelines
9. http://www.americantelemed.org/about-telemedicine/what-is-telemedicine
Association, The American Tele health, (2012)
http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Delivery-
Medicaid.Gov
Results from a patient-centered Medical Home Pilot AT UPMC Health Plan
Cynthia Napier Rosenberg, Pamela Peele, Donna Keyser, and Sandra McAnallen
Health Affairs November 2012 31:112423-2431; doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2011.1002
Integrated Tele health and Care Management Program for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Disease linked to savings
Laurence C. Baker, Scott J. Johnson, Dendy Macaulay, and Howard Birnbaum Health
Affairs September 2011 30:91689-1697; doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0216`
References:
