5 Lessons From Successful Telemedicine Deployments
1) Telemedicine Is More than Just Technology
Telemedicine fuses technology with clinical considerations that address the needs of both the provider and patient community. Advocacy, education and smart policies play an important role in a sustainable telemedicine model.
2) Telemedicine Expands Existing Care Channels
A common misperception is that telemedicine competes with existing service channels. In fact, telemedicine works with healthcare technology to augment and expand existing services.
3) Telemedicine Brings World-Class Care to Small Communities
Telemedicine Brings World-Class Care to Small Communities
Connecting rural communities with large medical centers through a hub-and-spoke model can fill patient care gaps. These remote connections can bring more specialists, providers and quality care options to underserved rural communities.
4) Telemedicine Drives Healthier Business
Adding telehealth channels can help hospitals and clinics offer additional services and specialist care while attracting new business. Facilities in smaller communities can drive the revenue necessary to remain open and increase the number of admissions for patients who would otherwise be admitted to city hospitals.
5) The Telemedicine Model Is An Evolving New Frontier
Telemedicine can improve health, lower costs, and help communities sustain their healthcare systems. As with all innovations, success requires vision, tenacity and a willingness to change outmoded models of healthcare delivery.
The regulatory side can present barriers, but this is changing over time as telemedicine modules become an integral part of leading hospitals.
