Why Telehealth Integration is Crucial for Modern Healthcare Practices
Across the globe, telehealth has transitioned from a COVID-19 lifeline to a total game-changer in the healthcare industry, transforming how medical services are offered and accessed. Over 116 million people worldwide used virtual physician consultations in 2024 alone, up from around 57 million in 2019, according to Statista.
When faced with these numbers, healthcare providers realize integrating telehealth into practice is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Join us as we explore the benefits of telehealth and ways to leverage virtual care solutions and strategies to build a patient-centric, efficient, and sustainable practice.
The Rise of Telehealth Services
Telehealth services have grown exponentially, propelled by technological advancements and the increasing need for virtual healthcare solutions like routine follow-ups and remote monitoring. What gains has this healthcare sector seen? Some findings include:
- A study found Gen Y and Gen Z patients drive the highest overall satisfaction scores with telehealth.
- A survey revealed 61% of patients prefer telemedicine for prescription management.
- Virtual visits among older Medicare recipients have grown from around 5 million to more than 53 million.
- As of April 2024, telehealth services rose 2.7% nationally.
What do all these stats mean? Telehealth is working. Next, we list some of the top benefits of virtual care solutions, and later, we reveal the best strategies for implementing telehealth in your practice.
5 Benefits of Telehealth in Healthcare
1. Promotes healthier outcomes
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is redefining virtual healthcare. This technology allows physicians to track patients’ health data in real-time. RPM devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, monitor different vital stats from blood pressure to glucose levels, enabling early detection of potential health issues.
By integrating remote monitoring into their practices, healthcare providers can offer proactive, personalized care, reducing the need for emergency interventions and frequent in-person visits.
2. Improves chronic health conditions
Chronic care management is one area where telehealth shines. Patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease require ongoing monitoring and frequent follow-ups. Telemedicine options like remote monitoring increase access to specialists to manage and treat chronic conditions.
Telehealth can also help reduce the financial burden of chronic disease, which accounts for 75% of medical expenses. According to the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF), this technology improves:
- Patient compliance. Virtual solutions, like text messaging, improve outpatient follow-up, check-ins, and self-management goals.
- Clinical outcomes. RPM improves health outcomes such as blood pressure control and balancing glucose levels.
- Dietary results. Remote monitoring encourages patients to eat healthier, reducing sodium and sugar intake.
3. Expands access to care
Rural communities and those with mobility issues often face challenges in accessing quality care services due to limited resources and distance. Integrating telehealth solutions fights healthcare disparities by providing rural populations with access to care that might not be available locally. Positive outcomes include:
- Reducing isolation. It brings specialized long-term care to elderly populations residing in rural care facilities.
- Improving patient self-advocacy. Studies have shown that virtual visits can improve patient behavior, such as adherence to medication.
- Bridging communication gaps. Interpreter services are transmitted on-demand through audio and visual technology for patients with language barriers.
4. Increases patient communication and satisfaction
With telehealth, patients experience higher satisfaction due to flexible scheduling and the convenience of accessing care from home. It reduces the burden on patients by allowing virtual follow-ups, resulting in fewer missed appointments.
The technology also improves communication by allowing easier sharing of concerns, medical information, and questions, resulting in more honest information gathering.
5. Saves money
One of the most compelling reasons for telehealth integration is its cost savings. How does it lower expenses for providers and patients? Take a look:
- The average single provider practice with one location build-out is around $35000-$45000 initially, with approximately $9000 monthly. Telehealth reduces most of these expenses, increasing income potential.
- It lowers patient travel expenses and time spent on the road (an average of 35 minutes). Telehealth was associated with an average cost savings of between $147 and $186 per patient for patients.
Best Practices for Implementing Telehealth
Below, we offer guidance and best practices to help you deliver personalized virtual patient care and premium telehealth services.
Embrace telehealth software
Implementing reliable telehealth software for providers is crucial in streamlining virtual consultations. These solutions often include video conferencing capabilities, mobile apps, and scheduling features, improving communication between patients and healthcare professionals.
Pro Tip: When selecting software, make sure it’s simple and easy to use. During virtual appointments, patients, especially older users, can become frustrated with complex technology. Also, consider scalability and pricing. Do your research and assess different telehealth software vendors to find the one that suits your needs.
Integrate EHR and telehealth
For a truly efficient healthcare system, merging electronic health records (EHR) with telehealth services is vital. This integration allows for the seamless sharing of patient information, ensuring that physicians have access to complete medical histories during virtual consultations. An EHR and telehealth integration minimizes administrative tasks and reduces the risk of errors, ultimately improving patient care.
Pro Tip: When selecting a telehealth platform, make sure it does not require additional software. For example, with cloud-based platforms like DrChrono Telehealth, providers can schedule and conduct virtual visits directly from their EHR.
The integrated system offers a HIPAA-compliant Video Visit feature, allowing providers to create online appointments and send automated emails to patients without additional software, downloads, or cumbersome setups.
Prevent patient risk
While telehealth integration offers considerable benefits, preventing patient data from getting into the wrong hands is essential. Healthcare providers must implement strong security measures to protect sensitive information from cyber threats. Encrypted communications, secure storage solutions, and access controls are critical to safeguarding telehealth patient data.
Pro Tip: Use secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platforms for video consultations. Educate your staff about data privacy regulations and implement strong cybersecurity measures to protect patient information.
Go mobile
It’s time to invest in mobile healthcare tech—or get left behind. For example, the DrChrono EHR platform offers a HIPAA-compliant iPad EHR app. This technology allows patients and providers to conduct video visits from mobile devices like iPhones or iPads. Providers can also access their patients’ records during the mobile telehealth visit.
Pro Tip: Make sure your mobile solution also includes features like scheduling, medical billing, customizable medical forms, and e-prescribing to simplify practice management.
Instill reliable technology
Nothing disrupts a great patient visit like a frozen screen. Avoid these issues and others by investing in high-quality video conferencing tools and telehealth features. These solutions facilitate smooth patient communication and a stable internet connection.
Pro Tip: Remember to update the software to avoid disruptions during telehealth visits. Updating also helps with treatment planning, patient progress tracking, and quicker diagnosing.
What’s Next for Your Future?
Telehealth integration is becoming a staple in modern healthcare practices. By leveraging telemedicine services, EHR integration, and RPM, you have the power to enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and extend their reach far beyond their practice walls.
But remember, when looking to transition to telemedicine, choosing the right partners and platforms is crucial to ensure a successful integration.
Contact Us to learn more about telehealth innovation and how it can transform your practice today!