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  • How Telemedicine Solutions Impact the Healthcare Industry

    How Telemedicine Solutions Impact the Healthcare Industry

    The pandemic, with its need for isolation, gave a major boost to the development of new ways to diagnose or treat, this was the impetus for the development of telemedicine software development services. Online medicine, which was shunned not so long ago, has become ubiquitous and, moreover, in-demand among customers. But still, many are wary of this option of interacting with a doctor. Let’s figure out what it is, how it works, and how telemedicine solutions can impact healthcare institutions and patients.

    What is telehealth software?

    IT technology in healthcare is not just the use of gadgets and other devices. This is a whole complex of both software and hardware that is used to store, distribute and analyze health data.

    Traditional clinical services, patient monitoring, and record-keeping have now been transformed and simplified with the advent and spread of telemedicine. This also includes remote training of medical personnel. The use of telemedicine software has simplified and popularized video consultations, digital imaging, remote medical diagnosis, and more.

    And if we are talking about software for telemedicine, then we must understand what types of it are:

    Real-time telemedicine communication software

    The software and the scenario of its use are most comparable to a real visit to the doctor. Both the doctor and the patient can discuss issues of interest remotely. This gives doctors the opportunity to assess the patient’s condition and carry out treatment remotely. And for the patient, this option of telemedicine makes it possible to contact a remote specialist or institution for consultation.

    Telemedicine platforms for data storage and transfer

    This is a step towards transformation in the exchange of information. It is mainly used in the exchange of digital photos and videos for diagnostic purposes, or clinical data between patients and the clinic, or between doctors for additional consultations.

    Remote patient monitoring

    The target application is home telemedicine. This allows patients to be under constant supervision. It consists of specialized software and equipment that is installed at patients’ homes. This complex also includes monitoring the vital signs of patients and also provides doctors with frequent updates on the well-being of patients.

    Integration of telemedicine software

    This software is aimed at integration with existing medical systems. These are comprehensive solutions that are aimed at the complete synchronization of all patient credentials and their treatment histories. We can say that this is the way to centralize data.

    Integration with Pharmaceuticals

    Patients can access many of the professional services given by pharmacies and receive guidance on pharmaceutical therapy management remotely by using telemedicine software.

    Benefits of using telemedicine solutions

    All of the methods for incorporating software in medicine described above are applicable at all levels of care. Consider some easy instances.

    Attempts to get treatment from a doctor in another city or to make suggestions to a patient who lives in another city have always existed. Doctors have sent letters and called patients. However, telemedicine truly took off in the country when the Internet became available in practically every home. It’s a simple and rapid way to communicate, allowing the doctor to provide as much information as possible from a distance.

    When a person knows what telemedicine is, he or she can get help in situations where a visit to the doctor is impossible or undesirable. For example:

    ●  The trip to the hospital is long and difficult (the patient has a fever, something hurts a lot, there is a lot of weakness), and the wait for the doctor on duty is long;

    ●  The problem seems non-hazardous or irrelevant, and the person is not ready to spend the whole working day for it, but wants to get confirmation from the doctor that there is nothing to worry about;

    ●  Hospitals are overloaded because of an emergency or natural disaster, so it is impossible to get help there for a minor illness or a chronic problem;

    ●  Because of the quarantine, it is undesirable to go out and even more so to communicate with doctors through whom many sick people pass;

    ●  The illness suddenly appeared suddenly while on a business trip or during a trip to another country where there is no possibility to get qualified help or there is no possibility to invite an experienced interpreter who could explain all the details;

    By contacting a doctor online, a person avoids having to sit in lines, spend time on travel and money on time off work in order to get to an appointment on time.

    Custom development of telemedicine software

    When it comes to developing software for the telemedicine industry, the benefits provided by specialized and even custom applications include:

    ●  More convenient and cheap patient care: real-time consultations, photo-based consultations, including staging solutions, and mobile healthcare accessible.

    ●  Telemedicine solutions help make processes more economical, but at the same time more efficient. Thanks to comprehensive solutions, it is much easier for the patient to see a doctor online, and because of this, transport costs and non-urgent visits to clinics are reduced.

    ●  The storage of medical data is also undergoing changes. Telemedicine solutions allow you to handle huge amounts of data with complete security and precise control.

    ●  Brings automation to medical processes. This aspect has a positive effect on the time spent by doctors and on administrative operations.

    But also, custom software may provide some problems too. We at Empeek regularly face the following challenges associated with developing telemedicine applications:

    ●  Licensing and compliance with laws make development difficult.

    ●  Difficulties in building a connection with the server part, since all information exchange must be centralized.

    ●  The provision of platforms should be at the highest level. Telemedicine involves a lot of personal data of users, their medical history and other information that needs to be protected. And besides, you still need to ensure the security of payments.

    ●  Creation of high-quality UI / UX to provide a single space for all parties of communication.

    The value of telemedicine software development services is to provide you with a solution based on in-depth market analysis and tailored to your individual needs.

  • Telemedicine: the Future of Healthcare

    Telehealth and telemedicine are the future of healthcare.  Telehealthcare has grown rapidly in the past few decades.  Even though it is less than a century old, it is maturing at an unbelievable speed.  Starting in the 1920s, radio communications were used to give medical advice to ship clinicians.  By the 1980s, telehealth was offered to countries outside of the United States.  Today, even veterinarians have begun offering telehealth services. 

    Not only has telehealth made large strides in the past decades, but the past year has also seen major increases in popularity.  In 2019, more than 75% of U.S.-based hospitals used video to connect with their patients.  COVID-19 prompted many patients to try telehealth for the first time.  Currently, 61% of Americans have now had at least one telehealth appointment; this is a 3x increase from March 2020.  In the first quarter of 2020 alone, there were over 1,600,000 telehealth visits, and almost 70% of patients managed their concerns regarding the pandemic with telehealth guidance. 

    Telemedicine and telehealth provide remote and non-remote clinical services.  Telemedicine is used to diagnose conditions, offer mental health services, screen symptoms, deliver specialist consultations, and support nursing home staff.  Telehealth is much broader, including chronic condition support, physical and occupational services, fulfilling medications, and facilitating administrative meetings, provider training, and continuing education. 

    Telehealth is innovating solutions, providing holistic healthcare in cardiology, pulmonology, and endocrinology.  28% of consumers use different technologies to moderate their health.  Remote clinical tools such as blood pressure monitors, anticoagulation testing, and ECG devices are just a few of these tools.  Apps and phone gadgets, wearable devices, and mail-in labs are all new technologies that have innovated solutions for telehealthcare.  Patients can have diagnostic tools and mental health services through apps.  Wearables allow patients to constantly monitor their health, and mail-in labs can give consumers information on their allergies, genetics, and food sensitivities. 

    Even through opposing barriers, telehealth has continued to thrive.  66% of adults were concerned about the use of private medical information, but consumers are growing more and more comfortable with their private records in the cloud.  Over 40% of patients have limited access to the internet, but this is currently being solved with federal broadband initiatives.  In addition, licensing issues prevented doctors from seeing patients across state lines, but recent legislation is allowing telehealth practitioners to do so. 

    The benefits of telehealth are evident.  82% of Americans say telehealth makes it easier to get the care they need.  It is convenient, saves on costs, and is more comfortable.  There is no need to take time off work to commute to the doctor’s office.  31% of patients say their healthcare costs decreased when using telehealth, with a savings estimate of anywhere between 17-75%.  In addition, many feel less anxiety and fear when seeing a doctor remotely.  Telehealth helps those in need by implementing programs that serve high-risk and rural populations.  They have expanded access to acute care; 59% of Medicare patients have access to a laptop, allowing them to receive the care they need.  Step into the future of medicine with telehealth. 

    The Booming Business of Telemedicine
  • T-Mobile and Zyter Partner on Telehealth

    T-Mobile and Zyter Partner on Telehealth

    T-Mobile has announced it is partnering with Zyter to provide telehealth options.

    Telehealth and telemedicine are growing in popularity as a result of the pandemic. As regions were in quarantine and lockdown, many turned to telehealth for their healthcare. Many viewed telehealth as a safer alternative than in-person doctor’s visits for non-critical medical needs.

    Unfortunately, successful deployment and use of telehealth programs requires quality internet access, specifically internet that allows videoconferencing. To help address this, T-Mobile has partnered with Zyter, a leading provider of software as a service (SaaS) digital health products.

    “We believe that every American has the right to quality healthcare that is safe and secure,” said Mike Katz, EVP, T-Mobile. “By partnering with Zyter, we can outfit healthcare organizations of all sizes with solutions that reach more people and enable faster and more reliable virtual care through familiar devices like smartphones and tablets.”

    The two companies will work together to help healthcare companies care for their patients remotely, using 4G LTE and 5G.

    “This is a significant agreement for Zyter as it enables us to leverage the vast resources and footprint of T-Mobile to make our digital health solutions more accessible to more patients,” said Sanjay Govil, founder and CEO of Zyter, Inc. “By working together, we can help organizations improve patient satisfaction while maintaining care quality and lowering costs.”

  • Verizon Launches BlueJeans Telehealth

    Verizon Launches BlueJeans Telehealth

    Verizon is continuing to leverage its BlueJeans acquisition with the launch of BlueJeans Telehealth.

    BlueJeans is a videoconferencing platform that Verizon bought in April 2020, at the outset of the pandemic. Since the acquisition, Verizon has been heavily promoting BlueJeans, using it for its own services and partnering with other companies.

    Now Verizon is expanding into telehealth, providing a way for patients and healthcare providers to connect virtually.

    “While the use of telemedicine has been steadily growing for some time now, the pandemic has accelerated telehealth adoption and changed the conversation around what patient care will look like moving forward,” said Tami Erwin, CEO, Verizon Business. “We worked closely with an advisory board of health system clinicians and healthcare decision-makers to build BlueJeans Telehealth specifically to address the most pressing needs for a virtual-first telehealth offering–from ease of experience to enhanced security. Today’s launch is just the beginning for Verizon in what we see as the future of telehealth, especially when you consider the innovation that will come from 5G mobility, broadband and cloud capabilities.”

    While the global pandemic has greatly accelerated the adoption of telehealth medicine, the industry is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Verizon is clearly positioning itself and BlueJeans to play a pivotal role in the transition.

  • Can An App Prevent Amputations During The Pandemic?

    Can An App Prevent Amputations During The Pandemic?

    What does the pandemic have to do with amputations? Wound care is one of the things that is being put on the back burner in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, for many people with chronic conditions such as diabetes, people who have had recent surgeries, and people with circulation issues, wounds need specialized care to ensure they don’t worsen. Even more unfortunate is the fact that many of the people with these kinds of conditions are the same ones who are in nursing homes, long term care facilities, and post-acute care facilities. Can a breakthrough in telehealth wound care help prevent complications in vulnerable populations?

    Why Is Wound Care Important?

    Complications from wounds that aren’t healing can include infections, amputations, and even death.

    People who are most at risk are already avoiding unnecessary trips to the doctor or to the emergency room. In many cases, facilities that deal with wound care have been shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19, and healthcare providers who treat these conditions are being barred from entering facilities where patients are living to protect the most vulnerable.

    Wound care is a highly specialized field, and while some wounds can be treated at home, specialized wound care is highly necessary for more complicated cases.

    While protecting people from COVID-19 is clearly the top priority, getting them access to specialized wound care is also very important during this difficult time.

    How Telehealth Works For Wound Care

    Ordinary telehealth measures aren’t optimal for wound care. Smartphone cameras aren’t set up to give medical providers an accurate image of what a wound looks like. Medical providers need to know the color, width, and depth of a wound to gauge whether it is healing properly.

    New advances in telehealth wound care do just that. AI can help give a more accurate representation of the color of a wound, crucial in the attempt of knowing whether it is healing or not.

    That same technology can give a clearer image of the depth of a wound and the width of a wound, which are also important indicators of healing.

    What’s more, telehealth wound care makes all the prior knowledge about a given patient’s wound able to be accessed by any medical provider in a practice, so even if a patient doesn’t see the same medical provider every time the accurate information is still there.

    Will Telehealth Wound Care Continue After The Pandemic?

    Telehealth has been touted as a way to get medical providers into rural and remote communities where doctors aren’t able to sustain a regular practice. But for some conditions, traveling to a larger city to see a doctor remains the best option.

    Because of the advances in telehealth wound care, this technology has the potential to bring better wound care to rural and remote communities, especially to those who lack the means of traveling to a larger city for medical care.
    Learn more about advances in the technology behind better, more accurate telehealth wound care below.