Recent consumer surveys show that patients prefer telehealth over office visits for a range of medical issues including urgent, preventative, chronic, and specialty care. Some of the additional reasons may surprise you.
Approximately 75% of respondents said they find telehealth to be a simpler solution for minor but urgent medical concerns including fever, flu, coughs, rashes, colds, and allergies. Surprisingly, the number of visits was similar for other concerns, including preventive screening, specialist visits, and chronic care check-ins. A rapidly dwindling minority prefer traveling to see the doctor. Most people now consider telehealth options for medical needs to be the norm and choose video visits over seeing their doctor in person. Although patients want to continue to use telehealth, awareness is not where it should be. Patients are not confident of the virtual care options available at their health care provider. According to surveys, more than forty percent of patients have never been told they could use telehealth if the wait for an office visit was too long, or if they struggle with childcare, transportation, or mobility issues. When patients were asked whether their primary healthcare provider has informed them of the availability of telehealth for medical visits, well over half of respondents said they had not been told, or they were unsure which remote services were offered.
Face Time Without the Drive Time
Improved patient doctor engagement is a telemedicine bonus, it helps specialty practitioners gain an additional diagnostic advantage because they can see how the patient’s surroundings suit their needs and view the patient using high resolution HIPPA compliant imaging of their patient in their normal environment. Mobility, hygiene and safety issues can be easily assessed and caught early.
Patient advocates can live in any time zone when using telehealth. Having a loved one on the line with the physician so they can take notes and be informed is a feature many families find helpful. This is particularly true for parents of children away at school, and those with elderly parents who don’t live nearby.
Avoiding travel is the main reason people choose telehealth with over 70% citing it as the incentive. Faster access to care, no waiting room germs, avoiding time off work, convenient hours outside of the workweek, and getting answers to small issues that don’t require a full visit are key.
Most patients have had a virtual urgent care visit in the past year. When asked what type of other past telehealth visits were common, patients indicated everything from dermatology to behavioral health. Even cosmetic consultations were on the list.
Speed and Convenience are Key
If a patient is looking to schedule an appointment with a new provider, the wait for an in-person visit can be lengthy. Patients would rather not wait. Almost all respondents said they would accept a telehealth appointment if they could be seen by the doctor at an earlier date.
Most patients expressed the importance that their primary doctor and telehealth care provider, if they differ, have access to the same full and updated health records. Since nearly 40% of telehealth users stated their most recent telehealth practitioner didn’t have, or wasn’t sure if they had the patients complete medical file. Using a comprehensive all-in-one healthcare management system provides real time access to all records.
Infectious Disease Control
To help prevent the spread of the flu, colds, and other infectious diseases, doctors can use telehealth during illness peaks for appointments to prescreen patients for possible contagious disease and prevent them from infecting staff and other patients. Less exposure to germs is of benefit, particularly in people who suffer from immuno-compromising illnesses, are elderly, or pregnant.
Acute and Chronic Care Benefits
When your patient or their child suffers from a chronic illness, or someone in the house is sick in the middle of the night, avoiding a visit to the ER or Urgent Care for treatment brings convenience and peace of mind. Being able to interface with patients and determine if a stomach virus or recurring infection can wait and if medicine can be prescribed without the patient having to make the trip to the hospital, it is a huge relief for sick patients that are already struggling.
For patients with mobility issues or disabilities that require specialized transport, telehealth creates an increased likelihood of effective patient engagement.
In-person visits often require extensive patient preparation that can be time consuming and exhausting for both the patient and care giver. This can include everything from coordinating accessible transportation, scheduling assistance, and navigation of exposure in public spaces that may be challenging for people living with a wide range of disabilities. Despite the actions of the ADA, barriers still exist. Disabled access is not always guaranteed in waiting rooms and restrooms.
Those who can benefit from sensory-friendly spaces and suffer from neurological conditions, cognitive disabilities, and mental health diseases are less likely to avoid care due to the improved comfort of a home visit.
Primary and Chronic Condition Management
Patients with chronic conditions who must regularly monitor specific body metrics like blood pressure, oxygen and glucose levels have shown an increase in patient compliance and improved outcomes with remote care.
Patient Portals
A convenient online portal helps patients schedule appointments, request prescription renewals, chat with support staff in real time, view and pay bills, or leave a message for their provider.
Patient portals also quickly transfer information and provide access to forms that accommodate new and existing patients. Using just a Smartphone, tablet, or computer, anyone can plan for an appointment in a matter of minutes with no waiting on hold. This allows patients to pick a time they are most likely to attend, reducing missed appointments and wasted staff hours.
Quality Care Almost Anywhere
Telemedicine can change your practice, do your patients know you offer the service? Although patients are quickly catching on to the ease of telehealth, many aren’t sure how to proceed at their doctor’s office. Practices should clearly communicate their telehealth options and instructions to patients if available.
At Virtual Office Healthcare Solutions, partnered with CureMD, our telemedicine software is an affordable, efficient way to grow your practice and improve your model of care without the expensive overhead costs.
With an easy to navigate appointment dashboard, clinicians see all upcoming telemedicine appointments on a simple calendar. Physicians can launch or end a virtual healthcare session instantly. One-click EHR scheduling puts your calendar at your fingertips to quickly schedule an appointment. You’ll be notified when your patient arrives to eliminate wait time and provide quality, face to face care.
Help improve rural healthcare accessibility and give patients expanded health services. Telehealth helps to bridge the gap in care for the 25% of rural patients, improving access to medical care without travel. Medicare has expanded telehealth cover to include nearly 150 services. This removes a barrier for a large group of remote patients and makes telemedicine platforms convenient, cost-effective solutions for the elderly and the housebound.
Unify your Practice
Your clinicians and the administrative staff can now enjoy a single software suite that allows cloud access for you to view and work securely from almost anywhere. With real time updates, you’ll stay fully connected with immediate access to records and test results. Premier software, like CureMD, provides all the functionality you need to nurture meaningful patient relationships while building a sustainable and financially viable medical practice. Schedule a brief demo today or contact us if you prefer to chat.
