Telehealth

What makes telehealth unique?

Technology can make it easier and more accessible for more people to get the health care they need. Telehealth may offer ways to make health care more efficient, better coordinated, and closer to home. 

You can go to a virtual visit from almost anywhere — no need to travel or drive a car to attend a virtual visit.

How does telehealth help chronic disease?

There are many ways telehealth can be used to treat and manage chronic conditions:

• Follow-up appointments to see how a patient is doing on a new diet
• Other modification
• Medication management
• Telebehavioral care and therapy

For example, monthly chronic care management visits are through telehealth. Telemedicine also makes it easier to access specialists, especially for those who live in small towns.

What are some advantages of telehealth?

Virtual visits substantially improve accessibility to care by breaking down the barriers that transportation, time, weather, and mobility issues can present to a patient. 

Telehealth provides additional benefits, like:

Medication Management

With telehealth, medication management can be done over the phone or video with bottles or pill dispensers. This helps to combat medication non-adherence and negative outcomes.

For nursing home patients, a telemedicine visit allows the facility nurse to be present, providing the nurse with useful information, related health care issues, and more accurate medication reconciliation.

Patient Education

It’s easier for patients and family members to be present and participate in telehealth visits, even from another location or state. Telemedicine can loop in your family member if you authorize it. This way, they can join the conversation, increasing health literacy and education for everyone.

With the ability to have frequent visits, patient education can be focused and frequently reinforced, both with the patient and family members, encouraging regular dialogue. This promotes positive lifestyle changes.

Comfort and convenience

Patients are more comfortable in their own homes, allowing for relaxed conversation. Telehealth visits can help the patient feel more involved in the decision-making process and the ownership of their health.

Another example is home blood pressure monitoring, the gold standard of accurate blood pressure readings. Frequent telehealth visits allow the provider to encourage and even watch the patient perform home blood pressure checks.

Given the high prevalence of masked hypertension, where home blood pressure is higher than in the office, the potential health benefits are enormous.

To learn more about the advantages of telehealth, call Pulse Primary Care to speak with the friendly staff and schedule a virtual visit. Or request an appointment online today.