Do you think that teleconsultation is too new to trust? Reconsider your thoughts. Its been developing for hundreds of years. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultation platforms have grown overnight. But, it is not the true picture. The Coronavirus has undoubtedly been a catalyst for the healthcare industry's reliance on virtual care. The idea of using teleconsultation technology to diagnose and treat patients remotely has been around for many years.
Although teleconsultation technology is older than expected, some healthcare organisations could feel displaced by the new demand for video consultation. Others may have to be more trusting of what sounds like new technology. As a result, In this article, we will be exploring all about teleconsultation platforms' history and how a healthcare organisation can reap the utmost benefits from teleconsultation platforms.
In the 1940s, Communication across the long distance was revolutionised with the invention of the electrical telegraph. The first vital instance of teleconsultation was recorded a decade later once 15,000 miles of telegraph cable were placed during the Civil War. At that point in time, the telegraph helped in virtual communication. At that time, It was used to order medical supplies and transmit casualty reports.
In 1876, the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, and the rest is history. The invention was a historical step toward revolutionising teleconsultation platforms that medical practitioners quickly adopted. The phone permitted doctors to consult with their peers regarding the treatment protocols, which further helped them to treat their patients better.
The first radio teleconsultation came out in Australia in 1928. When Reverend John Flynn founded the Aerial Medical Service(AMS), that used the telegraph, radio and aeroplanes to deliver treatment to rural areas of the country, at that time, the AMS received international attention and was considered the first organisation to deal with restricted geographical access to health care with teleconsultation technology.
And as we are all aware, in today's world, the internet changes everything. The speed with that humans can communicate is extraordinary. Healthcare providers now have more opportunities and additional dynamic tools to conduct teleconsultation.
Teleconsultation is outlined as synchronous and asynchronous consultation that uses information and communication technologies to overlook geographical and functional distances. Teleconsultation is designed to diagnose and provide treatment to the patient between two or more geographically separated health providers or between health providers and patients.
If teleconsultation is appropriately established, excellent outcomes like quick accessibility to accurate medical information, error-free diagnosis and treatment protocols, increased clinician trust and outstanding progress in the total quality of life of the patients will result.
Teleconsultation platforms are the route of communication between healthcare providers and patients. There are innumerable advantages of teleconsultation like the best telemedicine app can facilitate set appointments for diagnosis and patient treatment. Now let's have a look at the top benefits of teleconsultation, which are as follows;
Teleconsultation can be a replacement for the in-person visit to hospitals while not losing treatment quality. A patient survey showed that patients are 99% satisfied with teleconsultation platforms. Teleconsultation enhances diagnosis and treatment delivery by providing convenience. As a result, virtual visits allow patients to avoid travel hassles and reduce the danger of missing appointments. Automatic reminders and convenient rescheduling and cancellation policies will enable patients to manage their time efficiently and minimise patient no-shows.
It allows the patient a straightforward way to seek urgent medical care. With the help of teleconsultation, the patient can reach out to the healthcare provider via safe instant electronic messaging apps rather than waiting in a never-ending queue for an in-person visit. Using teleconsultation apps, patients can contact the clinician more frequently and have excellent engagement and ownership of their health.
With the assistance of teleconsultation platforms, healthcare providers can become more flexible and interact with more patients without extending their working time. They can try in-person visits and teleconsultations to search out what suits them best. For health organisations with multi-unit, some doctors might need to travel between locations throughout the day or dedicate a particular day to a specific location. Choosing teleconsultation permits these doctors to work from one place and be available for every patient at any time.
Teleconsultation will facilitate physicians to scale back the between-visit phone calls of the patients. If they use a teleconsultation app, patients will book a quick five-minute virtual consultation with the doctor rather than calling the doctor for a bit of free-of-cost advice, which will eventually help the physician to get rewards for those small interactions. Virtual appointments will also allow routine check-ups, pre and post-operative appointments and check-in with patients suffering from chronic diseases.
There are two primary methods of use of teleconsultation platforms currently.
2. Patient Portal
This is another form of teleconsultation in which patients can communicate with healthcare providers through the patient portal to ask questions, book an appointment, and refill prescriptions. These portals also provide the ability to store and securely share medical records like lab tests and imaging reports.
Leveraging teleconsultation to profitable practice helps in enhancing patient retention and increases revenue. Powerful financial incentives for the providers and intense customer requirements for the service are the two critical things that drive a sharp increase in teleconsultation technology. Following are the few steps from which doctors can increase their profit with the help of telemedicine;
There is numerous option available to choose from for patients. Several emergency care facilities, retail-based walk-in clinics, and thousands of online opportunities exist. These variations to in-patient care are prominent with patients, especially for common issues like flu, cold, UTIs, and other ailments, as they are inexpensive, quick and convenient. The physician who provides video consultation gives the essential patient benefits of seeing their routine provider with the added convenience of teleconsultation.
Practice profitably is problematic when any of the appointments are missed. It also needs to be better considering the patient's health outcome. With the help of teleconsultation healthcare, providers can decrease appointment cancellations and no-shows. Because patients do not need to arrange childcare, consider taking a day off from work, transportation, etc.
With the help of teleconsultation, it's easy for the patient to follow up on the next visit through the recommended process in telemedicine. It is the best tool for lifestyle coaching, pre and post-hospitalisation care, and medication management. Compliance and increased patient management lead to reduced medical errors, and it helps in better treatment, eventually leading to excellent patient outcomes.
To reap the maximum clinical and financial benefits from teleconsultation, it's essential to ensure that the healthcare organisation has set up a proper implementation. One of the most significant barriers to digital transformation is internal resistance that people do not like changes in their routines. To avoid this, preparation is the key to a successful transition into teleconsultation for any healthcare organisation. It's crucial to approach teleconsultation service with a complete understanding of the possible hurdles on the implementation path.
Implementing new technology in healthcare will offer several immediate benefits, but the organisation must look for ways to maximise the investment once implemented. After choosing the telehealth provider and having a teleconsultation solution in place, the healthcare organisation must turn their attention towards adoption. Try to make the transition as seamless as possible for patients as well as healthcare staff.
In the end, a teleconsultation is a booming option for any healthcare provider. If they want to implement teleconsultation in their practice, just remember these vital benefits of telemedicine and how to reap maximum benefits from it. It will guarantee your organisation get the most out of teleconsultation technology.