Across the nation, hospitals and health systems are reshaping virtual care programs to be more accessible, affordable and responsive to patients, clinicians and care teams. The challenge is: How do you capture best practices of in-person visits and evidence-based medicine while adapting to the unique setting of virtual care?
Four leaders of clinical transformation, innovation and marketing from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School recently shared a blueprint in the Harvard Business Review.
The so-called “DIBS” framework — documentation, integration, best practices and support — offers benefits for all virtual care stakeholders. The report provides insights drawn from implementing a suite of virtual care services at MDACC and operating procedures and virtual care guidelines at other institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Jefferson Health.
Include all unique activities of health care staff for a typical virtual care encounter. Compare and contrast in-person and virtual care contexts based on the patient’s reason for the visit. This comparison can help uncover process complexities that may arise unexpectedly when transitioning from in-person to virtual care. Categorize care-related activities before, during and after the visit and guide the technical assistance process for patients who have specific visual, auditory, language, technology literacy or technology infrastructure needs.
Educate them on how to look at the camera during conversations, and choose appropriate lighting and audio equipment.
Streamline all ancillary logistics that complement a virtual visit, including making future appointments, ordering prescription refills and incorporating personal health information captured on in-home devices.
To gain trust and buy-in, prepare patients and caregivers for self-monitoring and self-care with educational materials (e.g., tip sheets and links to training videos) and ensure that all communication is culturally and linguistically competent and clear.
Use evidence-based decision criteria to guide appropriate use of remote care (e.g., for lower-complexity and lower-emotion visits).
Encourage clinicians to review patient information and records (including, when possible, notes from other treating physicians) before virtual encounters.
Involve the entire care team (e.g., nurses, medical assistants, etc.) in preparing for the virtual visit, gathering records and prepping the virtual room, connecting during the visit and scheduling appointments as the visit ends.
Prioritize best practices that enable clinicians to adopt and sustain virtual care. Clinician benefits include greater efficiency, improved outcomes and patient experience scores.
To preserve these benefits, codify virtual care workflows where feasible and refine them as new service line-specific needs arise.
Timely support for virtual visits and the surrounding infrastructure is essential. Invest in ready-to-serve tech assistance for patients, clinicians and clinical teams. Ensure adequate supply chain redundancy to solve potential device or connectivity issues.
Explore using artificial intelligence (chatbots, virtual nursing assistants, clinical support algorithms) to aid patients and clinicians as they seek evidence-based guidance. And minimize the digital divide and access to care disparities by possibly installing a telehealth center with private cubicles in low-income housing complexes, community centers or other locations.
In rural South Central Texas, consumers can use a telemedicine station at the Milam County Sheriff’s Office to get immediate help when clinics aren’t open, potentially saving them a 35-minute trip to the nearest hospital.
Once inside the booth, patients can check their vital signs, access a dispensary with common medications and have an on-demand video visit with a nurse practitioner. The station is a collaboration between Texas A&M Health Science Center and OnMed, which manufactures a self-contained virtual medical unit that connects patients with licensed clinicians and pharmacists.
MDACC, meanwhile, offers a remote-monitoring program for patients undergoing immunotherapy. This effort has significantly reduced emergency department visits and led to greater patient satisfaction.
Elsewhere, UPMC health plan members can use digital onboarding for a range of integrated virtual services, including primary care, behavioral health, wellness checks and urgent care with no co-pays.
Virtual care allows patients to have a remote appointment with a healthcare provider through their smartphone, tablet, computer or other internet-enabled device.
Mental HealthPatients have long suffered the burden of long waiting times, large distances to travel, lack of available specialists, potential exposure to infection in waiting rooms and the need to take significant time out of their busy lives for an appointment with the doctor.
Diagnosing and treating a vast range of health conditions is achievable through virtual care. Doctors can assess symptoms or concerns through a video or audio visit while being as thorough as they would be in person. In some cases, doctors may request additional photographs to assist with their examination. Rocket Doctor is also equipped with a range of advanced at-home medical devices that can be delivered to a patient’s home in order to support a diagnosis or monitor an ongoing condition.
Of course, there are some instances that require an in-person visit to a healthcare provider or an immediate presentation to an Emergency Department. These include things such as serious injury, concerns for heart attack, stroke, sudden shortness of breath and other conditions that may require immediate scan or physical examination. Rocket Doctor’s Patient Care Coordinators are specially trained to identify instances that are not deemed suitable for a virtual appointment, and our doctors may also refer patients for a physical appointment in the event that they believe a physical visit is in the best interests of their patient.
It’s a good idea to write down the main things you want to talk about and if anything is worrying you. Note the symptoms you are experiencing, any medication you are currently taking and anything else you think may be important to tell the doctor.
Find a quiet, private space where you are comfortable to talk and you won’t be disturbed. Make sure you have a stable internet connection.
Remember that you’re in good hands. All doctors practicing medicine on Rocket Doctor are fully licensed, certified and trained to provide the most comprehensive care for all of our patients.
How frequently have you heard how the internet has changed modern society? Undoubtedly, it has altered how you interact with family members, make purchases, and use services and products. Additionally, it has certainly changed the way people search for medical information.
How frequently have you heard how the internet has changed modern society? Undoubtedly, it has altered how you interact with family members, make purchases, and use services and products. Additionally, it has certainly changed the way people search for medical information.
Healthcare professionals have always placed a high priority on improving patient outcomes. However, the switch from fee-for-service to value-based care has changed the way healthcare professionals approach this objective due to telehealth. Now with the help of telehealth, you can take control of your practice and obtain the services you need. The telehealth revolution has begun! So, let’s learn more about telehealth and its operation in this article.
Your practice CAN thrive in a post-COVID standard of care. Want to see how? Click to download your free copy of Telehealth Redefined.
To access and manage healthcare services remotely, telehealth uses digital information and communication technology. Technologies include desktop and mobile computers, as well as tablets and smartphones.
You may use this technology at home. In remote areas, telehealth may be provided by a nurse or other healthcare professional out of a clinic or mobile van. Another term for telehealth is the use of technology by your healthcare provider to enhance or add to current medical services.
Telehealth services were widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic and are still being used today. The following are the goals of telehealth, also referred to as e-health or m-health (mobile health):
Make it easier for people who live in remote or rural areas to access healthcare.
Between the members of the medical team and the patients being treated, and better care coordination.
What is TelehealthMany people found Telemedicine beneficial during the COVID-19 outbreak and continue to utilize it. Telehealth solutions include live video conferencing, mobile health apps, chronic care management (CCM), and remote patient monitoring (RPM).
People naturally want to use telehealth technologies to enhance care, provide convenience, promote access, and support sustainability because the internet and mobile devices are now a part of every aspect of our lives. telehealth services include consultations and virtual counseling sessions to text message public health alerts and on-demand provider training.
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