What other concerns exist around the integration of telehealth?

 

1. Reimbursement

For doctors and other healthcare providers, being reimbursed for telemedicine services can prove troublesome. For instance, Medicare provides coverage for telemedicine reimbursement, but with limitations.

For programs provided by the Medicare Chronic Management Program, such as services for patients who have at least two or more chronic health problems, reimbursement is possible. Such conditions must exist for at least one or more years or until death to be considered for claims for reimbursement.

Solution:

It helps to have a reimbursement package that involves using technology to track costs for reimbursement claims in order to resolve reimbursement barriers. You should use a portal that keeps track of these expenses so that you can better record payer-required receipts while keeping up-to-date on permissible reimbursements from insurers.

2. Lack of inclusion

Your workflow records are likely to be complicated if your Electronic Health Records (EHR) system does not align with the platform you are using to provide telemedicine services.

Solution:

You can record your defined workflow by using a portal that integrates with your EHR, and ensure that the e-visits of your patients are properly tracked and updated for future visits.

3. Lack of Data Sufficient for Continuity of Care

Continuity of treatment can also disrupt a lack of platform integration. If one service provider receives telemedicine from a patient, but prefers another provider for his next e-visit, then the second doctor does not have all the data she needs to diagnose the issue of the patient.

Solution:

The best approach is to find out where your patient has previously accessed telemedicine services, including those developed in hospitals and suppliers of other medical facilities.

4. Knowledge of Operation

If your telemedicine services are not known to your patients, then the service will not be used. With about 96 percent of large companies intending to give their workers telemedicine services, if the patients are not aware that you are providing these services, it's a lost opportunity.

Solution:

That's why organizing your launch through content marketing and social media marketing is essential to get the word out. If your practice involves one, email newsletters, social media, via email newsletters, social media channels and your blog.

5. Lack of professional knowledge by patients

It can decrease usage and hamper accessibility if patients do not understand how to use telemedicine services. Before launching your telemedicine services, it's a good idea to interview patients and ask which devices they will be most comfortable using while accessing your telemedicine services.

Solution:

Training your workers to use your telemedicine equipment is equally critical, so they can also assist patients who need assistance.

6. The Expensive Technology

Telemedicine costs can be a challenge for doctors, hospitals and private practices as you add up the cost of supplies and the cost of facilities to deliver treatment. By opting for bundled services or those that pay a flat fee, you might be able to minimize expenses, while keeping in mind that as the usage of telemedicine continues to increase, technology expenses and service costs will continue to decrease.

Solution:

Telemedicine programs are now helping patients and their expenses for in-person appointments and ER visits, potentially saving 25% on ER personnel costs.

7. Concerns on Privacy

Telemedicine systems can be easy, but they can also provide a gateway to security and privacy problems by providing Internet access to patient data.

Solution:

The privacy and security rules of HIPAA require that the information obtained from a telemedicine service is encrypted, and that you are linked to the network. In addition, you have to make sure that you communicate with patients through a secure link while contacting them. You need to get the permission of your patients before you record and store video calls.