As more healthcare systems try to find new ways to deliver care, telehealth is starting to fill the gaps. Telehealth has been a much-talked-about topic in the healthcare community for years, yet with technology catching up with the concept, it is finally becoming a reality.
In 2018, the use of telehealth is expected to grow exponentially. Not only are health systems using telehealth to expand their delivery options, but employers are also using it to drive down costs. A recent survey estimates the use of telehealth by employers will reach 96 percent in the next year. This growth in the corporate use of telehealth comes at a time when employers are experiencing another five percent increase in healthcare benefit costs. Thus, using telehealth to reduce healthcare costs is an attractive proposition.
By December 2018, surveys estimate that 76 percent of hospitals have or will be implementing consumer telehealth. Moreover, 69 percent of organizations that already have telehealth are expanding their programs.
With such large adoption of the technology, what is telehealth?
Telehealth: The Future of Medicine
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “telehealth involves the use of telecommunications and virtual technology to deliver healthcare outside of traditional healthcare facilities. Telehealth, which requires access only to telecommunications, is the most basic element of “eHealth.”
The benefits of telehealth are numerous, most of which revolve around improved patient care and access. Per the Mayo Clinic, the following are the goals of telehealth adoption:
- Make healthcare accessible to people who live in rural or isolated communities.
- Make services more readily available or convenient for people with limited mobility, time, or transportation options.
- Provide access to medical specialists.
- Improve communication and coordination of care among members of a healthcare team and a patient.
- Provide support for self-management of healthcare
With telehealth becoming so prevalent in today’s healthcare market, how will its use affect providers, especially nurse practitioners (NPs)?
Telehealth and the NP: Practical Concerns and Challenges
For NPs, the advancements in telehealth will impact the way they practice. First, with telehealth, it may allow NPs to be in one physical location but cover several medical facilities that are in different geographical areas. While this promotes access to care for many more patients, it also means NPs will be caring for patients in communities with which they are not directly familiar. This could prove to be problematic when it comes to patient communication and even knowing what health concerns affect different populations.
Secondly, for NPs who are used to a hands-on approach, they will have to adapt to being at arm’s length with only a screen to use. No longer will they be physically able to use touch as a method of diagnosis. NPs may not only find this to be limiting but also highly frustrating.
Thirdly, NPs will have to rely on staff at the physical location to help facilitate the patient telehealth visit. For example, an essential part of telehealth equipment is a stethoscope that allows the NP to hear a patient’s heartbeat remotely. While cutting-edge technology like this allows for a greater telehealth experience, it also requires the NP to guide facility staff who are interacting physically with the patient on stethoscope placement.
Planning for the Future
The influence of telehealth will only grow larger as the years go on. For NPs, this technology will affect their daily professional lives and patient interactions. While telehealth is a promising tool, in that it allows greater access to healthcare for many, it is also a new way of practicing medicine. Thus, for NPs, it’s best to know what challenges telehealth will bring.
If you are an NP and the use of telehealth interests you, turn to the experts at National Recruiters. At National Recruiters, we are leaders in healthcare staffing and the recruitment of medical professionals. Contact our top healthcare recruiters today to learn more!
