The Different Types of Telehealth You Need to Know About
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There are various types of Telehealth. However, the primary ones are live videoconferencing, asynchronous video, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health. Telehealth is the use of telecommunication technologies and electronic information to support long-distance healthcare.
In general, telehealth technologies include videoconferencing, streaming media, and wireless communications. Keep in mind that Telehealth is different from telemedicine. For instance, it focuses on remote healthcare services, whereas telemedicine refers to clinical services that are offered remotely.
Types of Telehealth
Telehealth, for example, online medical appointments, have successfully overcome barriers to health services, which are caused by the distance between the health provider and the patient. Here are the four main types of Telehealth. Read on!
1. Live Videoconferencing
Live videoconferencing, also called synchronous video, refers to two-way communication between the health provider and the patient. For example, here at MINT, our surgeon uses videoconferencing technology to communicate with patients who have back pain problems.
Remember, it is a type of telehealth technology that is used by our surgeons to review the signs and symptoms of back pain initially. Thus, it helps the surgeon to determine whether or not the patient needs conservative treatment, or he or she needs to undergo minimally invasive surgery.
2. Asynchronous Video
Asynchronous video, also known as store-and-forward technology, focuses on the use of electronic communication system to transmit the recorded health history, such as previously performed spinal surgeries.
Although MINT does not use this technology to treat their patients, it is beneficial in other healthcare domains where the doctors use the data to treat the patient. However, this is not done in real-time. In simple words, this is not a live videoconferencing technology. Generally, health professionals use this method of communication in rural areas.
3. Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring or RPM involves health professionals to collect health data or information from patients remotely. There are various advantages of RPM for health professionals and clinicians, such as easy access to patient data, delivery of quality care to more patients, reduction of burnout, lower costs, and higher efficiency.
RM uses digital channels and technologies to collect health data from patients in one location and transmit that data to health professionals, such as doctors and nurses in a different location. The aim is to ease the process of assessment and recommendations.
4. Mobile Health
Mobile health is one of the most effective types of telehealth technologies that focuses on the use of computers, smartphone devices, and smart apps designed specifically for healthcare professionals.
Healthcare professionals, including doctors, surgeons, and nurses, use this type of technology to provide adequate healthcare to patients. For instance, many surgeons use smartphone apps, such as Skype to communicate with patients remotely. In case of an emergency, the patient can contact the surgeon or doctor without scheduling online medical appointments.
Here at MINT, our surgeons communicate with patients even if they are not in the clinic. So, this allows patients to communicate with MINT surgeons in an emergency and seek proper treatment.
Telehealth Increases Access To Care
Distance and travel time between health professionals and patients can significantly limit access to care. However, thanks to telehealth technology, MINT has overcome geographic barriers to health and care. For instance, using videoconferencing apps, our patients can communicate with our surgeons easily to seek preoperative and postoperative care.
Improved Quality Of Care
Telehealth has improved the quality of care for patients who suffer from back pain and can’t travel a lot. Let us tell you what research says about Telehealth. Recent studies have highlighted that Telehealth allows for 39% less clinic or hospital admissions as well as over 60% of patients only spend a few days in the hospital.
The interesting thing is that MINT has qualified surgeons who perform minimally invasive surgery to treat back pain problems. Minimally invasive surgery, unlike open back surgery, is highly beneficial in reducing hospital stay time. It involves the surgeon making a small incision in the back, abdomen, or neck to approach the area of concern and fuse the vertebrae into a single, solid bone.
Minimally invasive spine surgery leads to fewer incisions, scarring, and less blood. On the other hand, open back surgery is risky because the surgeon has to move aside the muscles, ligaments, and tissues to operate. So, this can lead to further complications.
After the MIS surgery, the patient will go home the same day or the next day. There is no need for him or her to visit the clinic for postoperative consultation. A patient communicates with our surgeon using different types of telehealth technologies, such as videoconferencing, to seek postoperative care. Contact us today!
