Telepsychiatry is a term that references the delivery of psychiatric diagnosis and treatment using telecommunications technology, usually video conferencing over the internet. Sometimes the term is applied to all mental and behavioral health care that is delivered at a distance. While in the past, mental health-related specialties have been little affected by advancing technology, telemedicine … Read More
Millennials have been accused of killing everything from chain restaurants to beer. It seems that now they are aiming for another thing that older generations have taken for granted, primary care. Patients in this cohort are increasingly opting to use clinics, urgent care centers, and online providers rather than primary care doctors, according to the … Read More
It is essential for medical practices to make smart decisions about how to spend money, so it makes sense that providers want to understand the financial implications of an investment in telemedicine technology. It is clear that telemedicine has numerous benefits for patients including better access to care, increased convenience, fewer hospital readmissions, less cost … Read More
Heart failure is a complex chronic condition that presents debilitating symptoms. It is a major public health problem across the globe, with more than 26 million people affected worldwide. In the United States and Europe, the prevalence of heart failure ranges between 1.1 and 2.2% in the general population. The toll is highest on those … Read More
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, every day, more than 115 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The addiction to and misuse of these powerful drugs including heroin, fentanyl, and a list of prescription pain relievers has risen to the level of a national crisis that poses severe social … Read More
Research suggests that by 2030 nearly 20% of the population of the United States will be 65 or older. That’s almost double the number from 2012. Older adults tend to require more frequent and intensive health care, with some estimates putting the number of elderly patients with chronic conditions as high as 95%. At the … Read More
We spend most of our time in this space educating patients and providers about the benefits of telemedicine. After all, there’s a lot to love. For patients, video visits mean reduced health care costs, no travel or waiting time, less time off from work, reduced risk of catching another illness, and increased access to specialists. … Read More
Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposal for the 2019 Physician fee schedule. CMS’s rule includes recommendations that foster innovation through the use of communication technology. New Codes for Communication Technology The part of the rule that is relevant for the telemedicine industry is the proposed addition of two codes: … Read More
We don’t think it will be too long until strategies and techniques for integrating telemedicine into medical practice is a standard part of provider training. At the moment, however, video visits are a new thing for most providers, so it makes sense that there are many questions about how to be successful launching the new … Read More
Readmission is a significant problem after both medical and surgical hospital stays. Recent policy changes that include substantial financial penalties have made readmission an important, if not the most critical, pay-for-performance program for health care in the United States. Even people who undergo surgery on an outpatient basis can have postoperative complications that require hospital … Read More
