Telemedicine

Telemedicine can be described as a way a health practitioner can provide health services remotely to a patient in different locations using technology (Snyder & Kerns 2021). Examples of such technology include phone calls, messaging, and email, but in most cases, video conferencing. Telemedicine has revolutionized the healthcare sector because it offers multiple benefits, including reducing a patient’s travel expenses and saving time. Secondly, considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals especially were not a safe place for anyone due to the high potential of contagious patients. Telemedicine is handy in such situations, ensuring the patients are safe at home and not exposed to hazardous conditions (Snyder & Kerns 2021). Thirdly, telemedicine offers privacy and convenience because one can talk to a doctor in the comfort of their home. Fourthly, telemedicine reduces the likelihood of missed appointments or cancellations significantly, boosting the population’s health status (Balestra, 2018).

Telemedicine can improve patient outcomes because, as mentioned above, patients will most likely not miss appointments through remote access. This is crucial as a healthcare provider can determine the patient’s health status, evaluate whether they need new prescriptions and if their treatment is progressing accordingly, and, importantly, provide preventative care (Perisetti & Goyal 2021). Telemedicine completely changed access to medical care by making it easy and convenient. All one needs is a computer or a smartphone to access telemedicine, which is even more crucial in emergencies. For instance, initially, one would call 911 and wait for ambulance services; however, today, through telemedicine, one can also call a doctor, who can offer crucial ways to help the patient since they are familiar with the patient’s problem.

References

Balestra, M. (2018). Telehealth and legal implications for nurse practitioners. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 14(1), 33-39.

Perisetti, A., & Goyal, H. (2021). Successful distancing: telemedicine in gastroenterology and hepatology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Digestive diseases and sciences, 66(4), 945-953.

Snyder, E. F., & Kerns, L. (2021). Telehealth billing for nurse practitioners during COVID-19: policy updates. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(3), 258-263.

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Telemedicine

Reflect on your experience with using telemedicine. (If you have not used telemedicine, discuss the benefits and how it can improve patient outcomes.) How did telemedicine change the access of care to the patient being cared for?

Resources

Medicare Fact Sheet:

https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet

Telehealth Implications:

https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(17)30808-5/pdf

Telehealth Billing:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lRkSkxSCls26hfGyBDIWZiO7NQE8crVx/view
Length: A minimum of 250 words, not including references
Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA from within the last 5 years