What is telemedicine?
In the simplest terms, telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology. Healthcare professionals can diagnose, consult, treat, and manage patients in remote locations using live video conferencing.
What’s the difference between telemedicine and telehealth?
Often, the terms are used interchangeably. Yet, there is a difference.
Telemedicine is the virtual interaction between clinician and patient, and telemedicine is a subset of telehealth.
Telehealth encompasses non-clinical uses of telecommunications technology, such as self-monitoring (using wearables and/or apps to record activities), provider and patient education, and medical records management. Telehealth includes telemedicine, store and forward, remote patient monitoring devices, telephone calls, facsimile machines (faxes), tweets, and other electronic health care communication between providers and patients.
What is mHealth?
Mobile health is often referred to as mHealth, a tool for the practice of telemedicine. mHealth is telehealth delivered using a wireless service (cell phones, tablets, etc.) that brings care closer to the patient.
How difficult is telehealth technology to use?
Well, that depends on the software and equipment in place! Our clients enjoy a phenomenal user-experience with an intuitive design. We work with our clients to use current workflows that make integration and use surprisingly easy. The clinicians access patient data through their EHR, avoiding the hassle of multiple passwords.
Our patient interface is just as straightforward. We’ve made the experience intuitive, and patients familiar with apps will have no difficulty scheduling an appointment, conferencing with their medical provider, accessing and uploading data, and locating and reading educational material.
Is telemedicine private and secure?
Yes, but only when it is conducted using an encrypted platform designed for this purpose. Our proprietary point-of-care solutions are secure and HIPAA-compliant. Note that consumer apps – such as, Facetime, Skype, What’s App – are not secure enough for video visits.
Is the quality of care the same as an in-person visit?
Often, the quality of care that telehealth provides is superior to in-person visits. Research conducted over decades finds telehealth to be convenient, safe, and cost-effective. And, telehealth gives patients living in rural communities’ access to specialists, whose office may be hours away.
How long does it take to implement telehealth in my organization?
Implementing telehealth depends on a number of factors, including your goals and current conditions (systems and hardware). Our team of experts collaborate closely with your organization to configure a platform and/or solution tailored to your needs. We study your workflows and enhance them to make the clinician’s transition seamless.
Do I need to purchase new hardware?
We understand that you’ve made choices for hardware and software over the years, and enhancing your platform does not mean you need to discard those investments. In fact, the ViTel Net team works with you to upgrade your systems, using the platforms you already have.
