Is telehealth dead? The question isn’t new. In recent years, many health care commentators have proclaimed the demise of telehealth. We find this odd, given that experts continue to forecast explosive growth.
Consider this Accenture report from 2016, which predicts that telehealth will be a billion dollar industry by 2018 in the United states. This finding came as no surprise to us at Aetonix. Everyday, we see how the connections between patients and health care professionals are strengthened by communication technology.
So what’s the real reason that many in health care believe telehealth has past its expiration date? The answer might have to do with past associations with the word. For a lot of people, “telehealth” just sounds dated. And to be fair, some commentators merely argue that telehealth as we’ve known it is dead. It’s certainly true that the technology has evolved.
For many patients, the term is familiar. Say “telehealth,” and most people immediately know what you’re talking about—the delivery of health care through telecommunications technology. As fas as we’re concerned, this means the word is still useful.
While debate over terminology continues, one thing is certain. The concept of telehealth has never been more relevant. And there are plenty of Aetonix posts prove it. Here are four of our best.
Scaling Home Care Services With Telehealth
The health care environment has changed. In recent years, care has been shifting out of hospitals—and into patient homes. This trend is especially strong in Ontario.
It makes sense. Home is where patients want to be. And when it’s appropriate to do so, treating them in the community can result in major cost savings for the health care system. That said, this practical shift poses new challenges for home care service providers. Scaling up is one of them. Without unlimited resources, how can providers meet the growing demand for care?
In this post, published in October of 2016, we looked at the ways that telehealth can help.
5 Reasons You Health Care Team Should Revisit Telehealth
We’re well aware that telehealth has been around for decades. But that certainly doesn’t mean it’s useless today. At Aetonix, we believe there’s never been a better time for health care teams to revisit this vital concept.
Why? Because the health care landscape has shifted dramatically—making at-home care the best option for a larger number of patients. New telehealth technologies are the best possible solution for providing this care. Why else? Because today, telehealth is truly patient-centred, in a way it never could be when technology was less advanced.
For more reasons why telehealth deserves a closer look, you’ll have to read this November, 2016 post.
Nurses Supporting Nurses: Collaborative Home Care With Telehealth
Telehealth is all about delivering care through telecommunications technology. While the most obvious scenario features a health care practitioner communicating remotely with a patient, there’s another possibility. It centres around nurses helping nurses.
As home care delivery expands, it’s increasingly common for a generalist nurse to deliver care under the direction of a nurse with expertise in a particular area. This is where telecommunication technology comes in. Through realtime videoconferencing, a nurse in the community can receive immediate support from a fellow practitioner.
In this post, from December of 2016, we highlight the benefits of home care collaboration over isolation—and the role communication technology can play.
5 Ways Information Technology Can Improve Home Wound Care
As the number of patients with chronic and complex conditions rises, so too does the demand for wound care. Wounds cost out health care system $3.9 billion annually. Needless to say, this is a significant problem—one that often arises in the community.
Many patients who live at home require specialist expertise. The most efficient way to deliver this expertise is via telehealth technologies. Most commonly, a wound care expert will coach a home care nurse through a procedure remotely. This process extends the reach of specialists in the field.
In this post, published May, 2017, we delve further into the concept of nurses helping nurses. we look at the specific ways that videoconferencing and mobile technology make superior home wound care possible.
