Top 10 benefits of telehealth for providers and communities

 

Telehealth for health services has enormous benefits for patients, but there are also some very clear and compelling benefits for healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, payers, and communities.

Top 10 benefits of Telehealth for providers

Telehealth services offer the following advantages to providers:

  •  Providers will be able to spend more time with actual patients.
  •  More patients can be seen by providers.
  • Continuing education courses are easily accessible to rural providers.

1. Investing more time in patients

Offering telehealth services to healthcare specialists who travel on a circuit to see patients reduces their commute. Telehealth services enable these professionals to work from the convenience of their own homes.

The time previously spent commuting can now be redirected to patients. When providers have more time to spend with patients, they can provide better care.

2. More patients can be seen by providers

When people discuss the advantages of telehealth services for patients, they often mention how convenient it is for patients who live a long distance away from their healthcare providers. However, there is a side benefit for healthcare providers.

Providers can see patients who live far away more frequently using telehealth services. Because of the increase in regular appointments, they can provide better continuity of care.

3. Continuing education courses are easily accessible to rural providers.

The term "telehealth" refers to more than just treating patients remotely. Non-clinical aspects such as continuing education may also be included.

It can be difficult for rural healthcare providers to take time away from their practice and travel to attend continuing education courses.

Telehealth benefits for healthcare facilities

4. Fewer absences

Every time a patient fails to appear, a healthcare facility loses money. Every year, the healthcare industry loses $150 billion due to patient no-shows. Telehealth services significantly reduce the number of no-show appointments because it is far easier for patients to attend an appointment when they are in the comfort of their own homes.

5. A reduction in hospital readmissions

Another advantage of telehealth services for healthcare facilities is a reduction in hospital readmissions.

This is large because telehealth services improve continuity of care. Attending a telehealth appointment is far more convenient than driving to a clinic or hospital.

6. Cost-cutting measures

Virtual visits are significantly less expensive than urgent care or emergency room visits. Every time someone uses telehealth services instead of going to the ER, one major medical center saves $86.64.

Some patients use emergency rooms and urgent care centers instead of primary care physicians. Furthermore, some patients put off seeing a primary care physician until their condition becomes life-threatening. Telehealth services may enable these patients to seek care more quickly, adhere to treatment plans more easily, and avoid hospitalizations and costly ER visits.

Telehealth benefits for payers

7. A reduction in out-of-network transfers

The health insurance company loses money when a patient needs to see a specialist outside the network because there isn't a nearby specialist within the network. Telehealth services enable insurers to recoup lost revenue by allowing a specialist within the network who does not necessarily work in the patient's geographical area to see the patient during a virtual consultation.

8. Lower costs

Telehealth services have been shown in studies to save insurers and healthcare facilities money.

The weighted average cost for alternative care sites is $176 when patients are not offered telehealth services. A telehealth visit typically costs $50. Telehealth services save insurance companies $126 per patient.

9. Improving rural and remote communities access to healthcare services

Telehealth services increase rural and remote communities access to healthcare. Rural and remote communities are typically smaller, and residents lack the same access to care as their counterparts in suburbs and cities. Telehealth services provide residents with much-improved access to healthcare without requiring them to leave their rural homes.

10. Residents can make up for lost wages due to travel time.

Residents of rural communities must frequently travel to obtain medical care. Travel expenses and lost wages due to time away from work add up to an average cost of $24,000 and $16,769, respectively.

Telehealth services allow residents to stay in their communities while saving money. They can then put that money to good use.


For more Info: ANP Pharma

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

List of countries by pharmaceutical exports

Malaria Prevention Tips From ANP Pharma

Why is antimalarial prophylaxis important?