Written by Christine Wan | Edited by Zainab Bhatti and Nicole Xu

Telemedicine involves the utilization of electronic information as well as telecommunication technology so that patients can obtain the healthcare they need while maintaining social distancing guidelines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In fact, several healthcare providers and programs have adopted telemedicine platforms and associated technology in order to decrease patients’ interaction with healthcare facilities, other patients, and healthcare staff. This ultimately serves as a means to reduce patients’ and all related personnel’s risk for COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  

With regards to telehealth modalities, there are three prominent types, all of which allow HealthCare Partners (HCP) or healthcare professionals and patients to connect through technology. One of the three modalities is called synchronous: this method involves real-time telephone or live audio-video interaction and usually occurs through a smartphone, tablet, or computer. In certain cases, peripheral medical equipment (digital stethoscopes, otoscopes, ultrasounds) is utilized by HCP, like nurses, who physically interact with the patient as the consulting medical provider calls in to conduct a remote evaluation. As such, contact is decreased as the patient only interacts with the nurse, rather than both the nurse and the consulting medical provider. Another modality is called asynchronous: this modality involves “store and forward” technology; messages, images, or data that are previously collected are interpreted or responded to at a later date. Moreover, patient portals can facilitate this method of communication between providers and patients through a secure messaging system. The third modality is called remote patient monitoring: this modality involves direct transmission of a patient’s clinical measurements from a distance to their healthcare provider and does not necessarily occur in real-time (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 

In particular, telehealth services can be used to screen patients who may have symptoms of COVID-19, provide low-risk urgent care for non-COVID-19 conditions, and increase access to primary care providers and specialists. This would include mental and behavioral health specialists as well as specialists for chronic health conditions and medication management. Specific examples of the utilization of telehealth services are weight management and nutrition counseling. Other types of therapy offered remotely have included physical therapy and occupational therapy through hybrid modality approaches. Telemedicine has also provided greater access to those who live in very rural settings, older adults, and those with limited mobility. Other uses of telemedicine include general health care, like wellness visits and advice about certain non-emergency illnesses, medication prescription, and mental health counseling (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 

In addition to greater accessibility for certain patient groups, there are other benefits to utilizing telemedicine. For example, telemedicine allows patients to access their physicians with greater ease. With telemedicine, patients are able to speak with their physicians live over the phone or video chat and physicians are able to remotely monitor their patients. Other advantages include saving both time and transportation costs to the healthcare facilities as well as the reduced wait time for services and reduced number of visits to clinics. Additionally, telehealth services have facilitated public health mitigation strategies amidst the COVID pandemic by increasing social distancing and reducing interaction and contact between providers and patients. Telemedicine has also been able to decrease strain on healthcare systems by directly reducing patient demand on facilities. Moreover, telemedicine is able to provide adequate continuity of care,  preventing negative consequences associated with delayed preventive, chronic, or routine care. The utilization of remote access to healthcare has also aided with the preservation of patient-provider relationships when in-person visits are unfeasible (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

Many healthcare and insurance programs have  adapted to the above-mentioned telemedicine modalities as well as to the rise of telemedicine. For instance, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has become increasingly flexible throughout the duration of COVID-19. In accordance with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) guidelines that empower health care providers to serve patients through telehealth, HIPAA-covered healthcare providers have increasingly provided telehealth services to patients. These providers have utilized remote communication technologies, including FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Skype, to offer telehealth services. Moreover, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued temporary measures to allow people to enroll in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with greater ease, providing these people with greater access to medical care. CMS has also expanded the list of covered telehealth services to include more services, like home visits and therapy services (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).

Through COVID, healthcare has transformed through the increasing use of telemedicine, which has, in itself, experienced transformations. In particular, there have been several innovative uses of telemedicine as well as advances in telehealth platforms that have ultimately allowed HCP to better aid patients through remote patient monitoring technology and other facets. These other sources of innovation include new mobile health apps and wearable monitoring devices. These monitoring devices aid in tracking patients’ vitals, providing alerts about necessary care, and aiding patients in accessing their respective physicians (Verma). As such, healthcare and technology have risen to meet the evolving needs of healthcare in light of changing conditions.

Bibliography

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “COVID-19: Telemedicine – What Does It Mean and Why Should You Care?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Sept. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/global-covid-19/telemedicine.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Using Telehealth to Expand Access to Essential Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 June 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/telehealth.html.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. “Telehealth: Delivering Care Safely During COVID-19.” HHS.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 15 July 2020, www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/telehealth/index.html.

Verma, Seema. “Early Impact Of CMS Expansion Of Medicare Telehealth During COVID-19.” Health Affairs, Project HOPE, 15 July 2020, www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200715.454789/full/.