Patient-centered care & Interoperability expected to help telemedicine services

Telemedicine services executives claim that they are optimistic about the future of the industry and are planning near-term investments to keep pace with quick transformation and growth.

The findings of survey indicate that 83% of respondents to a survey sponsored by the American Telemedicine Association say they are planning to invest in telehealth services.

Although, top issues still remain for the technology, which has been attempting to achieve widespread adoption within healthcare for twenty years. Respondents noted reimbursement and licensure remain top obstacles to increased telemedicine services adoption.

However, advances in patient-centered healthcare and improved interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs) are advancing acceptance of the technology, respondents claim.

The report from the ATA’s executive leadership survey is deployed on 171 respondents in executive leadership roles representing telehealth service providers, healthcare practices and hospital systems.

“This executive leadership survey assures undeniably today’s leaders view telemedicine as a key driver in transforming healthcare,” stated Jonathan Linkous, CEO, American Telemedicine Association. “I anticipate remarkable progress in the market as we sustain to move toward more patient-centered solutions.”

Other significant findings involve:

• 88% of respondents plan to invest in technology related to telehealth this year.


• 98% of leaders say they consider telehealth services develop a competitive advantage over other agencies that don’t offer it.


• 84% of respondents believe offering telehealth services strongly expand an organization’s coverage and reach.


• About half of respondents consider increasing consumer demand will be the key trend that will propel the progress of the telehealth market in the next 3 years.

 

Are mHealth Kiosks is attempting to comeback?

The VA and a Washington-based health system are testing mHealth kiosks, and a new company is touting its self-enclosed clinic as an alternative to the urgent care center.

mHealth enthusiasts take note: The kiosk is not dead yet.

While HealthSpot’s assets – involving hundreds of the bankrupt company’s room-sized kiosks – were disposed of in an online auction over the Memorial Day weekend, smaller versions of the self-serve booths are showing up in health systems across the nation.

The Veterans Administration is utilizing the kiosks in rural parts of the country as an alternative to new clinics or VA hospitals, former U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake, MD LTG (Ret.) said during the recent American Telemedicine Association conference in Minneapolis. In Washington, the 48-hospital CHI Franciscan Health system has just launched a “virtual urgent care concierge program,” using kiosks to help sort through the mix of high- and low-acuity patients at its clinics and EDs.

Mercy’s Telemedicine Network is Developing

The St. Louis-based virtual care center adds another spoke in Pennsylvania, partnering with Penn State Health, and hopes to add more.

Mercy Virtual’s telemedicine hub has gained another spoke.

The high-tech “hospital without beds” in St. Louis announced a partnership with Penn State Health’sMilton S. Hershey Medical Center during last week’s American Telemedicine Association conference. The agreement enables Mercy to assist in the monitoring and care of the 551-bed hospital’s ICU patients – and instantly will extend Mercy’s virtual network through the Penn State Health system.

Mercy opened its $54 million, four-story virtual care center previous fall, and this February signed a pact to handle eICU services for the University of North Carolina Health Care system. Mercy officials vowed the UNCHC partnership was just the first of many.

Is Telehealth Prepared for the Amazon Approach?

American Well's new Exchange, disclosed this week at the ATA conference in Minneapolis, provides an online marketplace for providers and clients.

Can a telehealth network be run like Amazon?

American Well is ready to put that theory to the test, with the declaration at this week’s American Telemedicine Association conference that it is opening up an online telehealth marketplace. Called "The Exchange,” the enterprise platform will give payers and contributors the opportunity to design and market their services to the general public.

“We are connecting everybody,” company co-founder and CEO Roy Schoenberg said during a packed breakfast presentation, during which he compared the new service to the rise of Amazon in 2005 and its forced reshaping of the bookselling industry.