Get
ready for remote medical care
by Walecia Konrad | May 25, 2019
If you haven’t
encountered telemedicine yet, it’s a good bet you will soon.
Telemedicine, also
called telehealth, is a broad term that encompasses just about every type of
digitally delivered medical service. It could be anything from electronic
doctor communications, to monitoring devices chronically ill patients wear that
can relay blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar and other information to
doctors.
The telemedicine
services that your insurer is likely offering are more routine. They allow
members who sign up to meet with a provider outside of their regular doctors
via phone, video or email, any time of day or night.
While many physicians
and specialists offer their own virtual health services—especially email—they
aren’t necessarily available around the clock.
Some insurers offer
telemedicine as part of their own plan: others contract with outside
vendors. In most cases telemedicine consultations are used for
non-emergencies such as a rash, the flu or a sprain.
In 2018, 80% of
companies with more than 500 employees offered some kind of telehealth service
as part of their insurance plan, compared to only 18% in 2014, according to Mercer’s 2018
National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans.
And new rules issued
by the Trump administration now allow Medicare Advantage plans to offer more
telemedicine services for Medicare recipients, starting in 2019.
Why telemedicine is
growing
Insurers have
embraced telemedicine as a way to reduce healthcare costs. But there are some
clear benefits for consumers too.
Insurers have
embraced telemedicine as a way to reduce healthcare costs.
Being able to consult
with a doctor from home means that seniors with chronic illness can get the
consistent care and monitoring they need to avoid emergencies. That can be key
for those who live in rural areas or otherwise have trouble getting to the
doctor.
“Telemedicine is especially
attractive to baby boomers caring for their elderly parents,” says Ann Mond
Johnson, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association.
If you can’t get to
your doctor’s office for any other reason—say, you’re on a business trip and
you develop a strange rash—having a telemedicine provider gives you a place to
turn, and might even save you an unnecessary trip to the ER.
And in general,
you’ll pay about the same, or less, as you would for a visit to your primary
care doc.
The downside of
virtual doctors
Despite the big push
from employers and insurers, consumers have been extremely slow to embrace
telemedicine. According to the Mercer survey, only 8% of eligible employees
used telemedicine services at least once last year.
Lack of knowledge
about the programs may be the biggest reason for the slow uptake, writes Beth
Umland, director of research at Mercer’s Health and Benefits business in a blog post on the topic.
Trust may also be an
issue. Many patients are hesitant to call a stranger, and opt instead to
wait for a higher-cost office visit.
More problematic is
the question of how effective medical providers are at diagnosing and treating
problems over the phone or video without a “hands on” experience.
In a study
published in JAMA Dermatology in 2016, researchers called 16 telemedicine sites
posing as patients with skin problems. Several sites misdiagnosed serious
conditions and failed to ask basic follow-up questions. Clinicians’ credentials
were rarely disclosed, and only 32% of the sites discussed potential side
effects of prescribed medications.
“We
always have to have a plan B in case the technology just isn’t working.”
Diana
Barnard, a palliative care physician at University of Vermont Health Network
How to make the most
of telemedicine
Despite the slow
adoption, telehealth is likely here to stay, says Watts. If you decide to try
it out, use these three tips to make sure you reap the benefits.
Research the provider
Currently there are a
handful of vendors that dominate the market, and in most cases they have
trained staff and thorough guidelines on what type of care can be given
virtually, and what needs to be handled in person.
Other vendors,
however, have less experience, and some may even provide web consultations from
non-doctors. So find out who you’ll be talking to before you turn to them for
care.
Check your technology
In order for
telemedicine to work, you or your parent need strong wifi and, often, access to
video services. “We always have to have a plan B in case the technology just
isn’t working,” says Diana Barnard, a palliative care physician at University
of Vermont Health Network, who treats many elderly, rural patients.
Keep your own doctor
in the loop
Continuity of care
can be an issue with telemedicine because you likely won’t be treated by your
primary care physician or other known health care provider. It’s up to you to
let your doctor know the details of any virtual doctor visits, and treatments
you may have experienced, so your medical records can be complete.
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