Advances in technology and changing healthcare trends are making telemedicine a mainstream industry according to a recent article in the New York Times: The Doctor Will See You Now. Please Log On. The need is rising, costs for equipment and high speed communications are coming down and the ability to work reliably and securely over the internet are key factors.
But reimbursement is the driving force for telemedicine expansion in the United States. Big insurance companies are encouraging large employers to implement interactive video telemedicine programs. With the new healthcare bill the federal government is providing financial incentives to study telemedicine and other innovations.
“The technology has improved to the point where the experience of both the doctor and patient are close to the same as in-person visits, and in some cases better,” says Dr. Kaveh Safavi, head of global health care for Cisco Systems. Cisco Systems represents the higher end of communication with high definition video systems costing hundreds of thousand of dollars but the technology can be as simple as a webcam and a personal computer.
This clip from InPlace Medical Solutions is an example of a telemedicine visit:
Originally posted: 05/31/10 by AIPatHome Staff
For those of us who have been following the very slow process of insurance providers, consumer and medical industry acceptance of E-Health or E-Care technology the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging may have offered a glimmer of hope that there is movement along with a peek at the not to distant future of medicare adoption priorities.
By adopting new e-health technologies the U.S. government aims to reduce the cost of medicare by changing the way it pays doctors who would be allowed to bill for internet based visits with patients in addition to in-person visits.
Five percent of medicare beneficiaries who in most cases have one or more chronic conditions constitute 43% of medicare spending, according to Dr. Mohit Kaushal, Digital Healthcare Director at the Federal Communications Commission. Testifying before the committee he also said “… there’s a set of broadband-enabled health information technology, both now and emerging from development, that can mitigate many of these issues and reduce the cost of care while improving clinical outcomes.”
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Originally posted: 04/29/10 by AIPatHome Staff
A new national survey conducted by Lake Research Partners for the California HealthCare Foundation looks at who is using personal health records (PHR) and other health information technologies. Although the numbers may still be small the benefits are there especially for those with chronic conditions.
Survey Highlights
- About 7 percent of those surveyed say they have used a PHR — more than double the proportion identified two years earlier in separate research
- As a result of their PHR, users cite taking steps to improve their own health, knowing more about their health care, and asking their doctors questions they would not otherwise have asked.
- Although higher-income individuals are the most likely to have used a PHR, lower-income adults, those with chronic conditions, and those without a college degree are more likely to experience positive effects of having their information accessible online.
- Two-thirds of the public remain concerned about the privacy and security of their health information, but the majority of those who are using a PHR are not very worried about the privacy of the information contained in their PHR.
- Most PHR users and non-users say we should not let privacy concerns stop us from learning how health IT can improve health care.
- More than half of adults are interested in using online applications to track health-related factors, and almost half are interested in medical devices that can be connected to the Internet. Of those who do not have a PHR, 40 percent express interest in using one.
Click here to read the full report (PDF).
Originally posted: 04/14/10 by AIPatHome Staff
The Mayo Clinic will conduct a telehealth initiative to study to the care and cost benefits of in-home monitoring of patients with chronic diseases. They are partnering with GE Healthcare to implement Intel’s home monitoring technology Intel Health Guide.
During the year-long study 200 high-risk patients over the age of 60 with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, lung disease, will use a medical monitoring device to take their vitals: blood pressure, weight, sugar levels and peak air flow. This information is collected in a central database at the Mayo Clinic where the patient’s primary medical team will have secure web access. Clinicians will also be able to use the videoconferencing system to observe and communicate with their patients.
Last year GE Healthcare and Intel formed a partnership to work together to develop and market home-based telehealth technologies. The companies are expected to invest more than $250 million over the next 5 years.
(Sources: IHealthBeat, HDM)
Originally posted: 02/25/10 by AIPatHome Staff
