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Telehealth tools have become increasingly popular in the healthcare industry, allowing healthcare providers to deliver virtual care and connect with patients remotely. These tools offer a range of features and functionalities that can enhance patient care and improve access to healthcare services. In this article, we will discuss the key features of telehealth tools and explore the hardware that is essential for telehealth implementation.
Key Features
Telehealth tools come with a variety of features that set them apart from one another. However, there are some common functionalities that you should look for in any telehealth tool. These include:
Patient Portal
A patient portal is a crucial feature of any telehealth tool. It empowers patients by allowing them to manage, access, and organize their medical reports and prescriptions. Through the patient portal, patients can also connect with providers and specialists at your organization, facilitating effective communication and collaboration.
Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing features enable virtual appointments, allowing patients to remotely connect with healthcare providers for non-urgent consultations. These features typically include two-way video and audio capabilities, allowing for comprehensive care from a distance. Additionally, videoconferencing tools often include features like screen sharing, document sharing, and image markup, ensuring that healthcare providers can provide high-quality care while adhering to regulations like HIPAA.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is a critical feature for healthcare organizations that need to monitor patients’ health remotely. These tools pair with hardware devices that collect patient vitals, such as smartwatches and blood pressure cuffs. The collected data is automatically updated in the system, allowing healthcare providers to receive real-time notifications of any changes in patient health. This feature is particularly useful for large hospital systems or chronic care facilities monitoring patients in their homes.
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
Telehealth tools integrate with electronic health records (EHR) systems, either as standalone software or as a module within the telehealth tool itself. EHRs digitally store patients’ data, enabling healthcare providers to track and share detailed and up-to-date patient records. This integration ensures seamless access to patient information during virtual appointments and enhances the overall quality of care.
Research & Training
One of the key differentiators between telehealth and telemedicine is that telehealth tools focus not only on clinical care but also on non-clinical uses. These tools should facilitate staff training and research practices, allowing healthcare organizations to leverage telehealth technology for educational and research purposes.
E-Prescriptions
Telehealth tools should enable the delivery of digital prescriptions to patients’ pharmacies. This feature streamlines the prescription process and ensures that healthcare providers can identify potential drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interactions based on patient records. E-prescriptions are a must in the 21st century and contribute to the overall efficiency and safety of healthcare delivery.
Hardware
In addition to the software features, telehealth implementation requires specific hardware to support virtual care. Some essential hardware components for telehealth include:
High Definition Webcams
HD webcams are indispensable tools for telehealth. They provide high-quality video, which is crucial for conducting virtual appointments, training medical professionals, and collaborating on research with professionals around the world. High-quality video adds a personal touch to virtual interactions and enhances the overall patient experience.
Monitoring Devices and Wearables
Monitoring devices and wearables, such as smartwatches, blood pressure cuffs, and Bluetooth-enabled devices, play a crucial role in telehealth. These devices allow patients to transmit vital measurements directly to healthcare clinics, enabling remote patient monitoring. With real-time patient health information, healthcare providers can take a holistic approach to patient care, beyond visual monitoring.
Network Hardware
Telehealth relies heavily on a reliable internet connection. Adequate network hardware, such as routers and switches, is essential to set up and maintain video calls for virtual appointments. A solid internet connection is necessary to provide reliable virtual care to patients at home and monitor patients within healthcare facilities.
Endpoints
While many patients have their own mobile phones, tablets, or laptops for telehealth visits, healthcare facilities need to ensure that they have the appropriate endpoint tools to provide proper care. This may include providing devices such as tablets or laptops to patients who do not have access to their own devices. Ensuring that patients have the necessary tools for telehealth visits is crucial for effective virtual care delivery.
Carts and Kiosks
Carts and kiosks can play a significant role in facilitating virtual care within healthcare facilities. Telehealth carts enable healthcare providers to connect patients in the facility with specialists anywhere for additional care. Telehealth kiosks can be used for patient check-in at clinics or for on-demand appointments at various points within the community. These hardware solutions enhance the accessibility and convenience of telehealth services.
Conclusion
Telehealth tools offer a wide range of features and functionalities that can improve patient care and enhance access to healthcare services. When choosing a telehealth tool, it is important to consider the key features that will meet the needs of your practice or organization. Additionally, implementing the necessary hardware components is essential for a successful telehealth implementation. By leveraging the right telehealth tools and hardware, healthcare providers can deliver high-quality care remotely and improve patient outcomes.
If you are considering or already using telehealth tools for your practice, we would love to hear about your experiences. Please share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
