Telemedicine support remains a key operational challenge in clinics. IT staffing shortages, patient access and technical problems can disrupt care or negatively affect the patient experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic drove care into the virtual arena with both providers and patients quickly getting on board. But now that telehealth use has entered the mainstream, providers must determine the best modality for different types of care, be it video-based, audio-only or asynchronous.
Medicare beneficiaries used 63 times more telehealth services in 2020 than in 2019 after the federal government loosened Medicare’s strict telehealth rules due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released Friday by the Department of Health and Human Services.
As telemedicine companies stepped up during the COVID-19 (COVID) health crisis, patients and clinicians alike came to value and rely on the model of anywhere care, where an exam, checkup, or therapy session could be performed remotely and safely. Despite the support from consumers, the industry faces policy ambiguity as lawmakers roll back many of the rule waivers tied to the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Published results showed the use of telehealth for outpatient clinic visits may be feasible in orthopedic oncology, with favorable patient opinions, time savings and comparable reimbursement to in-office visits.