Five Benefits of Telemedicine in Inpatient and Outpatient Health Care Services
A growing and aging American population means that the demand for both inpatient and outpatient health care services is also increasing. While people who live in urban centers have an easier time of accessing health care, it can still be a challenge. The 20 percent of Americans, or nearly 60 million people,[1] who live in rural America face an even bigger challenge of obtaining inpatient or outpatient health care. Consider these five benefits of using telemedicine in the delivery of all types of health care services, especially in rural America.
Expand Outpatient Care in Rural Areas That Are Underserved
Telemedicine allows physicians to expand outpatient care in areas of rural America that are underserved. For example, many rural areas do not have an obstetrician-gynecology specialist for women to get maternity and prenatal care. In Arkansas, 73 out of 75 counties are designated as medically underserved and have a large rural population.[2] With telemedicine, a pregnant woman could go to her general practitioner’s office, have an ultrasound and speak with the maternal and fetal medicine specialist about the findings of the ultrasound. This could be done without having to travel to a large city.
Increase the Types of Inpatient Care in Rural Hospitals
Telemedicine can also be used to expand the types of inpatient care that rural hospitals are able to offer. For example, if someone has a stroke and the symptoms are recognized within two hours, that person could receive an intravenous solution of a medicine called TPA. Administration of TPA must be guided by a neurologist experienced in stroke. Most rural hospitals do not have such a specialist on staff. However, the medicine could be administered by the local emergency physician and guided by the neurologist through the telemedicine connection.
Improve the Quality of Emergency Care
Emergency care is also lacking in many rural areas. Traffic accidents and farming accidents often involve traumatic injuries that require prompt diagnosis and attention. For a small rural hospital that does not have its own trauma unit, telemedicine would allow the general surgeon at the hospital to connect with a trauma specialist to guide a surgery or choose the best course of action. This type of a connection could improve the quality and types of emergency care available to patients in rural areas.
Enhance the Recruitment and Retention of Rural Physicians
Small hospitals often have a more difficult time of recruiting and retaining physicians. Rural hospitals may not pay as well or offer as much prestige as a large city hospital. A physician practicing in a rural area might also lack the resources and camaraderie of other physicians. With a telemedicine setup, clinics and hospitals may have an easier time of keeping dependable, skilled and well-liked physicians on the staff.
Reduce Inpatient and Outpatient Health Care Costs
Using telemedicine allows inpatient and outpatient facilities to lower the costs of health care services. In some places, telemedicine connections have reduced the number of emergency room visits among children by 22 percent.[2] A typical telemedicine consultation only costs $75 while a typical emergency room visit costs an average of $750 in 2014.[2] This amounts to a considerable savings, which could reduce costs for patients as well as for the facilities that provide health care to people who do not have any medical insurance.
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References:
1. https://www.statnews.com/2016/05/12/telemedicine-emergency-care/
2. http://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20140205rgctelemedicineforum.html