Checklist for a Successful Telemedicine Therapy Procedure

Telemedicine is a technical version of the medicine care provided in hospital settings by a physician and obviously requires a completely different skillset. As the motive of implementation of telemedicine is to increase patient engagement, the facility must be technically well-equipped with necessary components that are required to make the therapy successful and more importantly must suffice the purpose of engaging patients in their therapy processes so that the outcome is increased patient satisfaction.

For an effective telehealth visit, technology plays an important role. The US population is growing and people aging 65 years and more is said to make up 19% of the total US population by 2030 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4795318/). As a result, the rate of chronic health conditions are also projected a considerable increase and people will be spending more on chronic disease management. The telehealth platforms for such aged population must be simple, easy to use, and provide accessible features. Most importantly, users must be properly trained to extract maximum benefit out of the user-friendly medicine technology. On the other hand, it is easier for the younger population to use the advanced telehealth mechanisms.

Obviously, implementing a telemedicine procedure needs certain kind of pre-arrangements. Let us have a closer look at the details to be considered while approaching for a video visit.

Here is the checklist for implementing a virtual clinic visit:

1.    Use a high-quality web camera: To replicate the feel of a real visit in a virtual visit, the need is to use a good quality camera. Patients should be able to see the doctor’s face clearly for feeling comfortable and responding positively to the treatment procedure. Also, the doctors need to reassure that the patients are using a webcam that is sufficient for a clear picture. Although most computers and laptops feature an integrated webcam, patients must test the visual quality of the cams before a virtual visit.

2.    Have the camera at the eye level: Leveling the camera at the eye-level enables a better eye contact with the patient and ensure a better connection.

3.    Use quality sound equipment: Most of the computer systems today have built-in good quality sound systems. However, for a medical communication to be successful, the sound equipment must be capable of minimizing the background noise and detecting low frequency sounds that are not in the hearing range of human ears. Also, both must perform a test using a sound recording program on their systems to ensure proper audibility.

4.   Finalize a dedicated space for virtual visits: For a virtual visit, not only the required equipment needs to be installed correctly, but the surrounding environment also must be taken into consideration. It must be private and away from distractions as it is only then that the patients will feel that their information is secured.

While preparing for the virtual visit, the following things need to be considered:

·   Test the webcam for clarity of visibility to be able to see the person at the other end for efficient interaction.

·      Make sure the volume and microphone is on and is audible to avoid any miscommunications during the procedure.

·       Plug your mobile or computer device.

·       Prefer using a wired connection as there is no possibility of losing the internet connection. If you are using a wireless connection, ensure that it offers a high speed so that the interaction doesn’t stop abruptly.

·    Close unnecessary programs as opening too many windows may hamper the speed due to overload on the memory.

·       Choose the right browser that the medicine portal works best with.

·     Dress appropriately as virtual doctor’s visit is nothing different than a real visit except the distance.

·        Adjust the lighting to display a clear and visible image.

·        Go through the patient concerns before the meeting if it is handily available.

During the virtual visit, follow the below guidelines:

·      When prompted, share the screen to start the video chat.

·     Have the support team’s number handy for use whenever needed, i.e in case any technical problems erupt.

·       Follow the same guidelines as in the in-person visit.

·   Have proper body postures and gestures to show that you are engaged actively in the treatment procedure.

·       Be clear while explaining the next steps to the patient.

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The above checklist is thoughtfully prepared to have a successful virtual visit. However, there are certain specifications that pertain to particular telemedicine platforms that are to be considered before implementing a virtual visit between a doctor and a patient. At Lifecycle Health, we ensure that both the doctors as well as the patients are comfortable before initiating the video visit so that there are no loopholes in the treatment procedure leading to any ambiguities. Telehealth is introduced to simplify healthcare procedures and invest in time-saving, cost-efficient methodologies. The Lifecycle team encourages telemedicine and aims to take the care procedures at a completely different level. To know more, visit http://www.lifecyclehealth.com/.

Read more about: 

http://www.lifecyclehealth.com/blog/2017/9/7/telehealth-video-visits-6-ways-to-be-more-effective

http://medicaliaorg.ning.com/profiles/blogs/know-how-telehealth-has-impacted-healthcare-scenario-globally

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5 Essential Tips for Improving Telemedicine Experience for Patients

Telemedicine is a virtual facility where the medicinal services supplier and patient are at a separation from each other and endeavor to accomplish human services arrangements by conveying through the medium. In any case, there are sure pre-necessities that are fundamental for making the telemedicine an effective treatment. In our past blog, Telemedicine Video Visits: Challenges and Solutions we concentrated on the reasons why telemedicine does not function admirably with numerous facilities. In this blog, we will focus more on the specialized angles related with telemedicine.

Telemedicine is growing its land reach as it gives a superior openness to human services arrangements in provincial zones and concentrates more on tolerant engagement. In any case, to be successful, telehealth visits must be actualized remembering certain specialized perspectives, for example, strategizing, overseeing operational issues, considering administrative arrangements, and conceiving standard devices for a proficient and acceptable care conveyance. Innovation works just when the work processes are appropriately tried before usage with the goal that procedures can be refined in light of profitable criticism from a couple of clients to keep away from ignore when it is taken off at a bigger scale. It is watched that the vast majority of the telehealth visits neglect to elevate quiet engagement to the level they should, due to rebelliousness with standard conventions like correspondence.

A human ear is built to hear the high recurrence regular sounds however seems like the intestinal and thoracic sounds are low recurrence sounds and require eight times increasingly the endeavors when contrasted with that of a typical sound. Discernability is a critical factor in deciding the determination precision and treatment proficiency. This is what you may miss on:

 Clarity in correspondence – A low quality of accounts clearly may prompt numerous other correspondence mistakes bringing about wrong conclusion and. At the point when the data is unintelligible and the doctor tries to take after a procedure for acquiring right data, it would baffle the patient as his profitable time is squandered which is unquestionably not acknowledged amid basic circumstances. Then again, if the doctor hops to perilous conclusions (like hearing 15mg as 50 mg), the effect would clearly be not kidding and could likewise prompt lawful results.

 Accuracy in speaking to the tone – Nasal obstacle, slurring, shortcoming, and mental status of the patients may go past understanding the patients' words and tone of discourse. In addition, a low quality sound may catch the accentuation put on a particular word or expression that is the way to conclusion exactness and treatment. For this situation, propelled sound preparing may help in adjusting the volume without bending.

 Clarity in testing situations – There might be many foundation clamors that would intrude on the accounts as they are hard to control and in such a domain if the patient has a strange complement or a peaceful voice, this may build the trouble in translating the sound. In such a case, there is a need of a framework that has finished state sanctioned tests to enhance discourse acknowledgment even within the sight of mutilating foundation commotions.

 Enhanced auscultation – To hear the sounds that are past human hearing limit like wheezing, heart mumbles, pleurisy, and stomach related manifestations even in a superb account, a sound framework is required which brings these variables into a discernable range that could be effortlessly handled by the human ear.

 Improved efficiency – When specialists redundantly request that patients rehash themselves or certain methods that weren't clear because of specialized lack of ability, it costs time, disappointment, and cash of the patient which could without much of a stretch be kept away from by utilizing a propelled sound preparing amid the first account. Clinicians must put resources into a genuine symptomatic quality sound framework that resultantly expands profitability and quality care.

Late advances in sound preparing units have attempted to address these issues by deciphering the sounds simply like the human sound-related cortex does and raising the low recurrence sounds without unnatural antiques. These propelled forms and numerous other post-preparing progresses that guarantee that the subsequent sound is without twisting and exact. This clearness is exceptionally fundamental to get the opportunity to see the real entire picture.

Telemedicine is an imperative apparatus that goes for enhancing quiet medicinal services encounters by giving high caliber, moderate social insurance. Telemedicine has improved care plausibility by centering more in sparing time and cash of the patients. At Lifecycle Health, we instigate propelled components that guide in making telehealth a fruitful stage for both – guardians and patients. For more knowledge on our methods for overseeing human services, visit http://www.lifecyclehealth.com/and encounter a whirlpool of imaginative medicinal services strategies.

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Telehealth Video Visits: 6 Ways to Be More Effective

As every technology demands a specific skill set to have it mastered, telemedicine and telehealth also have a certain set of pre-requisites to be conformed to for achieving the ultimate healthcare aims. One may be a great physician but the same person may not prove to be a great telemedicine physician as the skills, technology and surrounding conditions are different for both the environments. The clinical set up is a familiar and well-practiced mannerism for both – the patients and the doctors whereas the virtual set up is comparatively a novice concept that has to be handled intelligently and diligently to obtain success as a therapy procedure. According to a survey done by the government authorities in 2012, nearly 42% of the hospitals have telehealth capabilities. However, the skillset required for a successful telehealth video visit is something that is beyond the routine medical school curriculum.

Unlike the spacious, sophisticated hospital facilities, the virtual healthcare visits are restricted to just a small screen of a desktop, tablet, laptop, or even as small as a smartphone. The verbal and non-verbal communications through that window is the primary factor responsible for establishing a rapport between the physician and the patient. The first virtual meeting determines whether and how the diagnosis proceeds, and also whether the patient would want to continue the treatment or not. In a video encounter, there is a kind of professionalism and even a dress code that displays a proper presentation. However, most of the doctors still aren’t getting it right. There are even training schedules for clinicians given by teaching hospitals as well as universities that offer courses on telemedicine.

When trying to go online, here are six recommendations for doctors to encourage a successful online therapy:

• Plan your video visit with the patient: Some video patient visits may simply be a face-to-face communication via video, and the focus or "planning" for the visit is much like a routine visit and patient discussion.  However -- if this would be a follow-up visit for an injury or surgery, or if this is a first-time video visit about an injury, the video visit and interaction quickly becomes much more complicated, and if not planned correctly, you can spend much more time about communication challenges than the medical situation at hand.  

How will you instruct your patient to place their video device to be able to see their swollen ankle or body part that is not easily seen from the desk?  How would you instruct them to be able to effectively do a stretch or movement to demonstrate mobility to you?  If they have a desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone -- what are the differences?  How will they get their device to stand-upright to be able to focus it effectively?  How far should they stand away from the device?  

While these questions may seem simple, I can assure you they are not and can cost you valuable time on a video visit. While they are more convenient and typically take less time and effort than an in-person visit, without proper planning -- it could cost you much more time.Plan and even practice a mock-session with your staff, and possibly prepare a training document or communication to your patients on what to expect, and what to have handy for an effective time with you.

• Address patients by their first names: Trying to be less formal and more responsive is the key to letting an open conversation in and makes patients more comfortable with the treatment procedure. Using a more personal tone induces a patient-provider bond that isn’t just about the numbers. A smile on the physician’s face and proper gestures during conversation induces confidence in the patients’ minds.

• Pause and listen: On an average, a patient needs roughly 32 seconds to explain their health related issues to the physician while observations state that most of the doctors cut the patients off just within 20 seconds only to redirect the conversation. This may lead to less faith from the patient and some unheard gaps in the healthcare condition described that would otherwise help with the diagnosis. Be patient and listen to them more as in a telehealth video visit, the majority of the interaction is verbal cues and interactions, as well as the video non-verbal attributes to the conversation.  

• Introduce yourself and share information related to the care procedure: For patients to have confidence in the physician in a new provider introduction via telehealth video, the patient may want to know more about the physician's professional background and practice techniques. This builds trust and improves patient engagement throughout the care. The patient must remember the doctor’s name for a better connection.

• Acknowledge the patient’s concerns: A patient is the one who needs maximum attention to obtain better care results. So, he must communicate his concerns and symptoms clearly. Agree to what the patient says and confirm an understanding and indicating compassion is key, instead of dismissing the patient's approach, and then slowly guide the conversation into the right diagnosis and treatment path direction.  This may seem easy, but it is challenging at times.  Remember -- the patient is not necessarily having the additional experiences of office welcome, check-in, friendly chats upon entry, and other warm experiences to acclimate and process possible anxieties before they see the physician --in a telehealth video visit, the patient's first interaction is probably with the physician.

• Maintain transparency with the patients: Whatever it is, make it clear to the patient as they will surely appreciate the genuine approach and will be more confident with the treatment procedure. Although patients may expect the doctors to diagnose their problem immediately, it is always not possible. It’s better to admit that you need to consult a specialist or perform some research. However, while doing this it is really important to have a proper body posture for the patient to believe in your words, as the patient experience is a much different experience digitally vs. in-person and posture and non-verbal cues are even more important via telehealth video.

Healthcare is transforming to deliver patient satisfaction and reduce the costs of medication and care coordination. Telehealth has emerged to be a disruptive technology that is potentially endangering the traditional healthcare delivery due to the increased positive response from patients and cost-effectiveness. Due to growing popularity of patient engagement by implementing telemedicine, there have been several changes in the governmental policies too.

With so many initiatives spurring up for the establishment of modern healthcare practices, care providers must implement strategies that enable better healthcare delivery to patients through telehealth visits. Telehealth video visits will take time and many experiences with patients to become proficient.  It will take practice to portray the best of the services across a video screen, and also be able to get patients to communicate effectively with you as well.

With the Lifecycle Health, you can quickly have a telehealth video platform for performing effective patient video visits, and also for collaborating with other providers.  

However, Lifecycle health is not only telehealth video, the Lifecycle Health platform will also allow you to automate follow-up visits and monitor patients, trend patient and population outcomes, and communicate with your patients more efficiently with secure messaging.  

All in a single platform - web and mobile.  

To learn more about our sophisticated value care platform and to know how we coordinate along the patient’s continuum of care, please visit http://www.lifecyclehealth.com/. 

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