Providing remote clinical care without in-person visits is referred to as telemedicine. Although today we have streamlined technology to support video consultations, the seeds of what has grown into telemedicine were planted nearly a century ago.
In April 1924, the cover of Radio News magazine depicted a child showing his tongue to a doctor via live video. The image was labeled as science fiction, but with advances in technology, it didn’t take long for it to become reality.
In 1948, doctors transmitted the first radiologic images between two hospitals in Pennsylvania via telephone wire. A Canadian doctor created a system for teleradiology in the 1950s, and the University of Nebraska was the first to utilize two-way television communication for medical students in 1959.
Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s, telemedicine was used mainly to provide medical or specialty care to rural areas. For instance, the U.S. Indian Health Service partnered with NASA in the 1970s to deliver telemedical care to an isolated Native American reservation. This unique project used the same satellite communication tools that helped provide medical care to astronauts in space.
The rise of the internet has launched a new trajectory for telemedicine. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops make video consultations accessible to anyone with an internet connection. High-quality videos allow doctors to see skin lesions, swollen joints, bruises, and more. As a result, telemedicine is becoming popular in hospitals and medical schools across the country.
Telemedicine offers a unique opportunity for naturopathic doctors, functional medicine doctors, and others who specialize in integrative care. Here are eight key ways that virtual consults benefit both integrative clinicians and their patients.
BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS
Convenience. People are busy. Virtual visits allow them to jump on a video consult from their living room, office, or anywhere with an internet connection. They can squeeze in the visit between finishing work and picking up the kids from daycare. Rather than blocking out half a day from their schedule, they can complete their doctor’s appointment over a lunch break.
Cost savings. Although virtual visits are typically billed at the same rate as office visits, patients can save money by missing less work and reducing travel expenses. This is especially true if you offer a specialty service that attracts patients from miles away.
Privacy. Some patients are embarrassed about their symptoms or don’t want anyone to know they’re visiting a doctor. With a virtual visit, patients can converse from behind closed doors in their home and avoid being seen in the doctor’s office.
Satisfaction. Patients who have the convenience of meeting their doctor virtually may be more likely to keep follow-up appointments. When they do that, they may also be more compliant with their protocols, achieve results, and feel satisfied with their care.
BENEFITS FOR PRACTITIONERS
Broader reach. Virtual consults allow you to overcome the barrier of distance, even providing care to rural or remote areas. If you specialize in a certain condition, people who live across the country may be drawn to consult with you because they can’t find the same type of care near their home.
Flexibility. Just as a patient can participate in a virtual consult from any place with an internet connection, so can a practitioner. You can meet from your home, or better yet, from anywhere in the world. With virtual consults, your practice doesn’t need to stop when you travel for conferences, speaking engagements, or fun.
Seamless digital integrations. When you meet with a patient online, you also exchange test results and recommendations electronically. Because your patient is used to interacting with you online, he or she will likely find it seamless to also use a patient portal or online dispensary like Wellevate.
Office efficiency. When patients have the convenience of meeting online, they’re less likely to cancel or show up late. You maximize your time and the number of patients you see in a day. And with fewer patients coming into the office, your staff members are free to focus on other administrative tasks.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
An important consideration is the legality of practicing medicine across state lines. Each state has its own set of laws regarding the practice of medicine. For most states, you can only offer telemedicine to patients if you have a license to practice in that state. You might be able to offer nutritional consultations or lifestyle coaching, but you wouldn’t be permitted to diagnose or treat disease. That’s why it’s best to consult with a local lawyer before adding telemedicine to your practice. Finally, not all patients or clinicians are good candidates for telemedicine.
And, before you jump online and start calling new patients via Skype, Zoom, or Facetime, take a step back. Patient data will be exchanged during virtual consults, which means these consults may be subject to HIPAA regulations. You must be sure you are using compliant technology.
Wellevate provides an online telemedicine platform that uses data encryption and helps enable your HIPAA compliance.
A NEW MODEL OF CARE
Patients who require a physical exam, have a language barrier, or don’t have the technical resources for a video call are usually best seen (and may be required to be seen) in the office. And, of course, clinicians who provide therapies like acupuncture or massage can’t deliver these services online. However, many practitioners have now added telemedicine for patients who are interested, while maintaining their brick-and-mortar practice for those who aren’t. As more and more practices are choosing to offer telemedicine, it may soon become something your patients expect.
RESOURCES
» American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
» Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL)
» Southwest Telehealth Resource Center n SELECTED REFERENCE Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee on Evaluating Clinical Applications of Telemedicine. Field MJ, editor. Telemedicine: A Guide to Assessing Telecommunications in Health Care. Washington (D.C.): National Academies Press (U.S.); 1996.
Each state has its own set of laws regarding the practice of medicine. It is recommended that you consult with your local attorney and state licensing boards to ensure you practice within existing laws and emergency amendments and guidance and interpret them correctly for your region and your license/practitioner type. This is not intended to be construed in any way as legal advice.