The Advantages and Disadvantages of Telemedicine
Virtual care, also known as Telemedicine/Telehealth, like any other technology, has its own benefits and drawbacks. While many in the industry see virtual care as a strategy for lowering healthcare costs, increasing access to care, and even helping to improve patient outcomes, some of them are skeptical of its ability to deliver on these promises.
Here are a few common questions we might all have:
- Is investing in virtual medical care for the practice a good idea?
- What are the pitfalls of telemedicine?
- Is telehealth cheaper?
- Advantages and disadvantages of telehealth
- Disadvantages of telehealth
- What are the advantages and barriers of telehealth?
- What are the pros and cons of telemedicine?
So, if you’re one of them looking for answers, this guide can help you get everything you need.
Here’s a quick rundown of the top telehealth pros and cons to help determine whether it’s right for your health system.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
PROS AND CONS OF TELEHEALTH
Pros of Telehealth
We live in the era of virtual care. With more than two-thirds of Americans now owning smartphones and tablets, the mobile revolution has made implementing virtual care software a less expensive and technologically complex endeavor than in the past. However, modern virtual care software solutions require only a computer or smartphone and an internet connection to complete a virtual care visit.
# Virtual Care Can Help Increase Your Patient Base
With virtual care, a patient can experience convenient healthcare app from the comfort of their own homes. It enables many patients to see specialists who would otherwise be unavailable for treatment. Furthermore, this helps hospitals and health systems expand their patient base while strengthening relationships with current patients. Virtual care allows specialists to communicate with patients who live outside of their geographic region, which is especially helpful in:
- Post surgical follow-up
- Behavioral health
- COVID-19
- Urgent care
- ED Triage
# Virtual Care Is a Cost-Effective Solution
Virtual care is often a less expensive alternative to in-person visits for patients and providers. A 2015 study found that the average healthcare visit costs a patient $43, on top of the patient’s actual medical bill. Reducing time spent in the waiting room and commuting to the clinic can be highly beneficial to patients, especially if they have a chronic condition that requires frequent appointments. However, virtual care platforms include features such as patient enrollment and scheduling, which make booking virtual appointments easy. A built-in billing system also simplifies patient payment collection for virtual appointments, saving time and money on sending paper bills.
Virtual care allows doctors to check up on chronic patients or conduct follow-up visits with less-time commitment than in-person appointments. Virtual visits can also help you cut down on no-show and late appointment rates, allowing you to streamline your appointment calendar and save time.
# Engage Patients for Better Patient Outcomes
Remote patient monitoring enables providers to reinforce treatment adherence, which can be critical in avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations and maintaining patient health. If a patient has questions about a medication or believes they need to change their treatment plan, virtual care allows them to consult with their provider quickly and conveniently. Virtual care can also help the patient feel more confident, which is crucial for long-term health. As a result, it increases adherence which leads to better patient outcomes.
Cons of Telehealth
While many people get excited about virtual care’s potential, others in the industry are concerned about the telehealth disadvantages. Virtual care technology has come a long way, but it is not without flaws. Furthermore, as telehealth technology progresses at breakneck speed, the regulatory landscape has struggled to keep up. One of the most obvious disadvantages of telehealth is the ongoing need for clearer, streamlined policies and standards governing telehealth practice to facilitate easy implementation.
# Industry and Regulatory Barriers
Telemedicine regulations differ from state to state and can be hard to understand. The COVID-19 waivers implemented in 2020 further complicated matters. When those waivers expire, your system’s reimbursement experts should evaluate and update their processes.
Some tools are insecure and healthcare leaders may be concerned that patient privacy is not adequately protected. Problems such as a lack of interoperability in EHR systems can sometimes complicate the use of virtual care. Some practitioners are hesitant to use telemedicine because the industry seems to be constantly changing.
# Physical Examination is Limited
Live video communications technology was not advanced enough until recently to provide comprehensive medical care. The vast majority of patients and healthcare providers now have easy access to high-quality video-conferencing technology. However, a virtual visit may not be enough for some providers to diagnose or treat a patient. Although virtual care can be very beneficial for many minor conditions, doctors may not feel comfortable conducting an examination via video chat. Some patients may see this as an additional reason to prefer in-person visits over virtual appointments.
# Telemedicine Equipment and Technology
Many remote health services, such as chronic patient monitoring, therapy appointments, and post-operative care, are made possible using telemedicine. However, all of these services rely on software and hardware, which requires expensive training, additional IT staff, and the purchase of servers or other ancillary equipment in addition to the software. Furthermore, as with all technology, glitches occur. When problems arise during a virtual visit, communication comes to a halt. That risk may be enough to deter some people from using telehealth platforms.
There may be patients who are not computer literate or concerned about equipment costs and setup. Still, others may simply be unable to find a user-friendly telehealth platform that meets their needs.
Conclusion
These advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine change with technology, but they all reflect age-old principles. When a virtual care platform has a low barrier to entry, little financial risk, and effective security features, utilization rises, patient outcomes improve, and healthcare costs decrease. As a result, investing in telehealth is more crucial than ever before, and CONTUS MirrorFly can help you get the telemedicine video conferencing app the way you want.