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The rising popularity of telemedicineTelemedicine — the practice of administering medical care remotely — is increasing in popularity because of its practicality. Most healthcare businesses have been implementing it for decades, but advancements in telecommunications tools have vastly improved telemedicine. Making telemedicine work Key elements in making telemedicine work are video teleconferencing equipment, a fast and stable internet connection, […]

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The rising popularity of telemedicine

Telemedicine — the practice of administering medical care remotely — is increasing in popularity because of its practicality. Most healthcare businesses have been implementing it for decades, but advancements in telecommunications tools have vastly improved telemedicine.

Making telemedicine work

Key elements in making telemedicine work are video teleconferencing equipment, a fast and stable internet connection, and advanced telemedicine hardware and software. These elements are indispensable because telemedicine now requires highly visual interactions and access to pertinent medical information.

In particular, internet of medical things (IoMT) devices such as wearable heart rate monitors and sudden fall detectors help push the field of telemedicine further because of how these collect data and update caregivers in real time. When the vital signs of device wearers drop to critical levels, ambulatory services may be called upon automatically to check on patients and provide treatment quickly. Additionally, these machines create a compendium of health information that grant physicians a clearer picture of how their patients are doing come their next virtual consultation.

Healthcare businesses and individual medical practices with telemedical capability also need to comply with the regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), and other healthcare legislation. Mostly, these regulations involve compliance with the handling and storage of personally identifiable patient information.

Benefits of telemedicine

  • Easy access – Telemedicine solves the basic problem of access to medical expertise. For example, if a patient in a far-flung town in Wyoming needs to see a cancer specialist in California, telemedicine can make that possible. In a less complicated medical situation, telemedicine solves the problems of mobility. Without having to go to the hospital for treatment, a patient can conveniently dial or log in to an online portal to consult a doctor.
  • Efficiency – One of the more problematic aspects of a doctor’s visit is the long wait. Often, wait times take much longer than the actual consultation. Patients with minor illnesses would rather self-medicate than visit a hospital and suffer a long queue. With telemedicine, a patient can wait in the comfort of their own home. Furthermore, IoMT devices constantly relay health information, often granting physicians more details than most on-the-spot queries and physical examinations.
  • Avoidance of contagion hotspots – At the height of the pandemic, visiting a hospital meant potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. And there wasn’t any assurance that hospitals could take patients in because COVID-19 cases were being prioritized. Therefore, telemedicine helped reduce the spread of the disease and relieved some pressure off of these institutions.
  • Better healthcare – Consulting your physician online doesn’t mean diminished quality of care — provided, of course, that all devices, telemedicine software, and other technical aspects work seamlessly. In some instances, remote medical care enhances the patient’s experience because they get to relax at home instead of going through the stress of commuting and rushing to make an appointment. Follow-ups, post-operation check-ups, and quick consultations can be done using a desktop computer, laptop, or smartphone, thereby reducing the possibility of missing an appointment.
  • Lower healthcare costs – Beyond having to spend on one’s commute to the doctor’s, the actual cost of an in-person visit is much higher than the cost of a virtual one. For minor ailments like the common cold and the flu, a physical visit to the clinic might set you back as much as $100, whereas a virtual one would cost considerably less.

Telemedicine is not meant to take over conventional medical care, but rather supplement it. Patients can expect an expansion of this practice among many medical providers, while healthcare providers can expect rapid growth in telemedicine technology, especially as IoMT devices proliferate and healthcare compliance requirements evolve.

We stand at the forefront of technological innovations that will continue to define an industry as dynamic as healthcare. If you need industry-based knowledge, contact us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Why EMRs are vital for healthcare providersElectronic medical records (EMRs) are digitized versions of patients’ information, and they’re a game changer for healthcare organizations. By transitioning from paper to digital records, healthcare providers can improve overall productivity and provide better care for patients. Here are some other benefits of using EMRs. 1. Better communication Fast and accurate communication between medical departments […]

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Why EMRs are vital for healthcare providers

Electronic medical records (EMRs) are digitized versions of patients’ information, and they’re a game changer for healthcare organizations. By transitioning from paper to digital records, healthcare providers can improve overall productivity and provide better care for patients. Here are some other benefits of using EMRs.

1. Better communication

Fast and accurate communication between medical departments is key to providing quality healthcare. From staying in touch with ambulance staff to instantly contacting emergency room doctors, a healthcare institution must have an effective means of communication, and this is where an EMR system comes in.

EMR software enables frontline staff to quickly transfer a patient’s medical records to other departments in real time. When the patient’s information is recorded in the system, other medical staff will no longer need to question the patient about his or her conditions again, and can proceed to treating the patient in a timely manner.

2. Lower costs

Reducing operational costs is a must for hospitals operating on a tight budget, and cutting redundant expenses is therefore necessary. When it comes to paper records, a hospital could be using over hundreds of thousands of sheets of paper each year.

By implementing an EMR system, hospitals can reduce the labor behind recordkeeping and cut down on paper costs. It also reduces the likelihood of costly errors when handing out prescription medications because of illegible handwriting or incomplete documentation.

3. Scalable recordkeeping

Before EMRs, hospitals needed to devote an entire room, if not more, for storing the paper records of patients. When a hospital grows, the number of patients increases along with it, and more space is required for physical data storage. EMR software provides a more efficient way of storing data on a virtualized platform compared to traditional paper records. The recordkeeping process is completely scalable, and EMRs will not take up valuable space in the hospital like paper records do.

4. Efficient treatment

With the help of an EMR system, patient checkups take less time since doctors can quickly access a patient’s medical record and reference the information needed to schedule appointments. When the turnaround time for the recording and prescription processes is reduced, a hospital can greatly improve its patient workflow.

Moreover, if further consultation or testing is required, physicians in other locations can simultaneously view a patient’s medical record on their computers, and get the latest test results and recommendations from previous doctors. EMR systems essentially enable healthcare providers to collaborate more efficiently with one another.

A hospital’s goal is to provide better patient care, and the benefits of EMRs can help improve various medical processes, including quicker access to patient information, better collaboration between departments and healthcare providers, and improved patient workflow. For more information on how to implement EMR software in your healthcare institution, give us a call today and we’ll be happy to help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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AI is transforming healthcare — here’s howIn recent years, advances in technology have had a profound impact on the healthcare industry. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping medical professionals streamline service delivery to patients. Here are some of the ways that AI is transforming the healthcare sector. Virtual personal health assistants At the helm of the AI revolution are virtual […]

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AI is transforming healthcare — here’s how

In recent years, advances in technology have had a profound impact on the healthcare industry. For instance, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping medical professionals streamline service delivery to patients. Here are some of the ways that AI is transforming the healthcare sector.

Virtual personal health assistants

At the helm of the AI revolution are virtual personal health assistants. A lot of people are already using such apps through their smartphones, wearable devices, computers, and other gadgets to keep track of their heart rate, blood pressure, and diet.

Virtual health assistants can also set a doctor’s appointment for you and remind you about it. They can document your symptoms so you can relay them to your doctor easily and efficiently.

The proliferation of smartwatches and other wearables that utilize AI also helps doctors monitor patients with early-stage heart disease. This enables them to detect potentially life-threatening episodes and deliver the proper treatment earlier, increasing patients’ chances of survival.

Healthcare bots

Healthcare bots are another AI-powered tech making waves in the healthcare industry. These provide quick answers when a patient’s primary healthcare provider is not immediately available. Accessible via the internet or over the phone 24/7/365, bots can ask patients about their medical history, allergies, and medical concerns, and provide immediate, affordable, and legitimate medical advice.

AI research and development is also making patient-physician and physician-physician interactions more efficient. Now available on the market are AI-powered apps that let doctors better understand their patients’ conditions, allowing them to provide better feedback and overall care. There are also apps that let healthcare providers compare their prescribing behaviors with others who are treating or who have treated the same condition.

What’s more, bots help healthcare providers minimize administrative and billing tasks, so they can focus more on medical care.

Health coaching

People with chronic illnesses can gain a lot from using virtual health coaches. For example, patients with diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and other long-term conditions can find the assistance they need from an AI coach that regularly monitors and analyzes their vital statistics and behaviors. A virtual coach can also provide accurate dietary and medical advice based on a patient’s health data.

These are just some of the ways that AI is transforming the healthcare industry. For questions about how your healthcare organization can leverage AI and other technologies, drop us a line today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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What an MSP can do for healthcare providersMore and more healthcare organizations are turning to managed services providers (MSPs) for their IT needs. The outsourced technology support model lets hospitals and clinics focus on being healthcare providers rather than IT professionals learning on the fly. Here's why partnering with MSPs is beneficial for healthcare providers: MSPs guarantee response times When it comes […]

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What an MSP can do for healthcare providers

More and more healthcare organizations are turning to managed services providers (MSPs) for their IT needs. The outsourced technology support model lets hospitals and clinics focus on being healthcare providers rather than IT professionals learning on the fly.

Here's why partnering with MSPs is beneficial for healthcare providers:

MSPs guarantee response times

When it comes to providing healthcare services, constant uptime and availability can be a matter of life and death. Your IT support team shouldn’t be any different. Most MSPs guarantee maximum response times and support lines that are open 24 hours a day.

If something breaks or you come across technical issues in the dead of night, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether an in-house technician takes too long to pick up the phone or can’t make it in.

MSPs help with business continuity plans

You risk putting your practice in jeopardy if your IT team can’t help you recover from an outage or natural disaster. A business continuity plan is an absolute necessity in your healthcare organization — you simply can’t afford to lose all your valuable medical data in the event of a disaster.

MSPs maintain HIPAA-compliant off-site backups and failover systems so you can prevent any sudden regulatory or customer retention issues.

MSPs provide proactive security

In the world of healthcare data security, complying with HIPAA mandates is essential. Failing to meet regulations may result in huge fines, serious penalties, and even the withdrawal of your license to operate.

MSPs offer security services that include identity-based security and encryption, authorized privileges and access control, and data accountability and integrity.

MSPs boost practice efficiency

Healthcare staffing is often a hassle. But thankfully, MSPs can help set up, secure, and support high-tech solutions that reduce your HR concerns. Practices can take advantage of automation, enterprise resource planning software, and database management to reduce human errors and increase operational efficiency.

If you want to learn more about how great technology and support can benefit your healthcare practice, get in touch with us today — we provide the perfect set of IT solutions and outstanding support to drive your organization forward.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post What an MSP can do for healthcare providers appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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