Remote healthcare hasĀ been around for aĀ while butĀ has become much more common during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine period. Lots of patients are experimenting with receiving their routine and non-urgent healthcareĀ through virtual appointments for the first time.Ā And many providers actually discouraged or eliminated in-person appointments in favor of online consultations for these types of issues in order to comply with state and federal business closure measures, to protect their employees, and to prioritize in-person care and resources for those with serious injury or illness during this time.Ā Ā
With the expanded use of these tools, we need a little more clarity about how these resources are defined and how they work. Telehealth and telemedicine are distinct remote healthcare concepts.Ā Ā
Telemedicine: remote clinical services, such as consultations with a doctor, assessment of health conditions, physical therapy or mental health therapy appointmentsĀ
Telehealth: a broader categorization of remote healthcare services, including telemedicine,Ā but also includingĀ non-clinical services such as provider training, healthcare administrative meetings, continuing medical education ā essentially various components of a well-functioning healthcare ecosystem. Telehealth is definedĀ asĀ āthe use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration,ā by theĀ Health Resources Services Administration.Ā
How Does Telehealth Work?Ā
Telehealth services are administered virtually by a healthcare professional to a patient. This can happen over various webcam interfaces such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc., but more commonly occurs over provider-specific portals designed to have increased privacy and security protections. Some of these platforms are web browser based while others are custom applications. The patient and the provider log in for a video call where they can hear each other over their device microphones and see each other through device webcams. Sometimes telehealth is also referring to other virtual platforms for doctor/patient communication ā like a portal with aĀ designatedĀ messaging system or other check-in features.Ā
These virtual functionalities are extremely convenient,Ā allowingĀ theĀ patientĀ to meet with their providerĀ from the comfort of their own home, and the provider to meet from a safer office or home setting as well. In addition, during the current crisis, telemedicine access has been expanded so providers can see patients not only from their local practice area, but also from farther away, evenĀ in other states.Ā
ThompsonĀ LawĀ works withĀ many practitionerĀ partners whoĀ currently offer either in-person visits, telehealth functionality, or both.Ā If you have a need for medical consultation, follow up, or treatment after an accident, reach out anytime to learn more about your options to receive the medical help you need, all while staying safe. You could even sayĀ we provide āTele-Lawā servicesĀ right now, with our staff working from home for social distancing purposes, but still providing our full range of personal injury services to our existingĀ clientsĀ andĀ taking new cases every day!Ā
Call (844) 308-8180
BenefitsĀ of Telehealth ServicesĀ
Itās difficult to find criticism of telehealth optionsĀ at this time.Ā The vast majority ofĀ conversation around these products and services is that they help serve a need for routine and non-urgent careĀ duringĀ this complicatedĀ period. Some patients and providers haveĀ expressed limitedĀ frustrationsĀ aboutĀ theĀ platformsĀ used forĀ virtual calling or work-from-home technology,Ā such asĀ when the tech fails or call resolution or sound quality is low. Generally, these issues are episodic andĀ easilyĀ avoidableĀ or correctableĀ through aĀ simpleĀ restart or reschedule.Ā
SafetyĀ
Stay in the comfort and safety of your own home for a consultation.Ā
Avoid risk of being exposed to illness while visiting a doctorās office.Ā
Avoid risk of spreading your illness to others during and in-person visit.Ā
Avoid adding to the exposure our front line and medical workers are currently facing.Ā
EfficiencyĀ
Skip the drive too and from the doctorās office, especially while you are feeling bad.Ā
Overwhelmed doctorsā officesĀ canĀ see patients more quickly virtually than in person.Ā
Less cleaning is required forĀ doctorsāĀ offices thanĀ whenĀ patientsĀ areĀ visiting in-person.Ā
Minor issues like follow ups or prescription refills can be handled more quickly and easily.Ā
CostĀ
Some health insurance chargeĀ patientsĀ a lower rate for telemedicine appointments, especially during the current crisis.Ā
Some providers charge insuranceĀ companies a lower rate for these appointments, especially if the appointment duration can be shorter.Ā
Who isĀ TelemedicineĀ for?Ā
TelehealthĀ servicesĀ can really work forĀ so many people fromĀ widelyĀ varied and diverse groups,Ā butĀ the technology hasĀ particularĀ value inĀ rural areasĀ where COVID-19 death rates are higher, andĀ whereĀ even in more stable times,Ā there are struggles toĀ recruit andĀ retainĀ talented medical providers.Ā Ā
The US News & World ReportĀ states, āThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees health coverage for more thanāÆ37 millionāÆAmericans with Medicare, expanded the type of telehealth visits it would pay for, and last week the federal agency said it would pay providers theāÆsame ratesāÆfor phone calls as it would for video visits.āĀ Advocates hope that expanded telehealth access that has occurred as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic will remain for the long term. Certainly, the benefits to patients and providers are there.Ā Ā
Additionally,Ā youngerĀ patientsĀ have been open to, and optimistic about, telemedicine for years.Ā Research as early as 2016Ā found that millennials were extremely disheartened about the state of healthcare and had strong interest in expanded services for medical care, including measures like telemedicine apps and other digital consultation resources.Ā Ā
Another finding from that study was that individuals with children in the house,Ā parents and caretakers, were also much more likely to desire a virtual option for medical support. Specifically, when asked about situations where care was needed in the middle of the night, respondents with children were 67% more likely to be in favor of telemedicine availability.Ā
Since that report in 2016, technology ease of use and access has increased dramatically. Younger generations assumed to be more tech savvy are certainly not the only comfortable consumers of this type of tech, as clearly evidenced by explosion of telehealth platforms during the current crisis.Ā Ā
In theĀ personal injuryĀ space,Ā the attorneys and legal experts at Thompson Law have had experience for years withĀ medical treatment involving telemedicine. Our exposure has increased during the recent quarantine period, and our team is uniquely equipped to connect you with great virtual medical resources should you need them. If youāve been hurt in an accident, need an injury attorney and need help getting medical treatment, please know you have a dedicated and compassionate resource just a phone call away with Thompson Law.Ā Ā
Call (844) 308-8180
Whatās the PrognosisĀ for Telehealth?Ā
Many of the relaxed telehealth guidelinesĀ will expireĀ when the COVID-19 national state of emergency period is over. But advocates and users alike hope that the approaches taken during the pandemic can beĀ codified into healthcare law for future practice. The safety benefits, efficiencies for our maxed-out systems, and increased access for underserved communitiesĀ are collectivelyĀ too important to give up.Ā Ā
Particularly since the expansion of telemedicine services accepted by Medicare and Medicaid in response to COVID-19 quarantine measures, other major private health insurance companies likeĀ BlueCross BlueShield,Ā Aetna,Ā Cigna, and more have expanded their accepted offerings too.Ā The efficiencies and benefits at this time may convince theseĀ companies to continue current practices into the future.Ā
The Future of Telehealth for YouĀ
If telemedicine is a service that would benefit your healthcare regimen, check with your insurance providerĀ and healthcare providersĀ about the options available to you.Ā To help you research your options, here are a few additional resources on telemedicine:Ā
- MedicaidĀ
- MedicareĀ
- BlueCross BlueShieldĀ
- AetnaĀ
- CignaĀ
- United HealthĀ
- Kaiser FoundationĀ
- HumanaĀ
- HCSCĀ
- CenteneĀ
- MolinaĀ
- Expanded Measures for COVID-19 ResponseĀ
Contact Thompson Law for telemedicine questions related to your personal injury case byĀ emailingĀ orĀ callingĀ anytime.Ā
Telehealth in Your Personal Injury CaseĀ
Itās true that the personal injury experts at Thompson Law may be well known for incredible case results, strong representation of clients hurt in car accidents, 18–wheeler wrecks and other devastating accidents ā butĀ we care deeplyĀ about the health and well-being of the clients we serve. An important part of considering a case outcome successful for us is seeing our clients make the absolute best recovery possible. For this reason, telehealth resources that help make that recoveryĀ happenĀ are extremely valuable to us.Ā Ā
If you have any questions aboutĀ your ongoingĀ personal injury case andĀ yourĀ how telehealth treatment mayĀ be impactingĀ it, reach out to Thompson Law.Ā If youāve been hurt in an accident and havenāt reachedĀ out to us yet āĀ please do so now! The sooner you speak to us in a free, no-risk consultation, the sooner we can show you the resources you have to get on the road to physical recovery and financial relief.Ā Ā
Call (844) 308-8180
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