Telemedicine

What is Telemedicine and How Does It Work?

May 13, 2021

For much of the last century, people have been scheduling appointments with their primary doctor when they had questions about their health. In more recent years, if anything happens after the physician’s operating hours, you can head to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room.

But as technology continues to advance, the options for health care have expanded quickly. In the last 5 years, telemedicine services have made it possible to receive medical information, care, and advice without having to leave home and without seeing a physician in person.

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, things have accelerated even faster in the world of "virtual care." Healthcare and access to a physician are at your fingertips almost any hour of the day.

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a way for patients to communicate with a healthcare provider remotely. The internet, cell phones in your pocket, video chat from just about anywhere: all have expedited the rise of virtual healthcare. Combined with changes to the way the U.S. regulates telemedicine in 2020, these have made accessing a doctor simpler than ever.

Today, you can discuss symptoms, medical issues, and various health questions with a licensed healthcare provider in real time through video, email, and online portals. You can receive a medical diagnosis, learn about potential treatment options, and even get a prescription for medication. For cases where it may be required, healthcare providers have the ability to monitor connected medical devices remotely in order to maintain a check on chronic medical conditions like diabetes and heart arrhythmias, for example. Doctors send and receive critical parts of the diagnosis process, like x-rays, MRI results, and more, within their system and without seeing each other in real-time.

Telemedicine is a catch-all term for a variety of virtual and remote communication methods, which fall into three broad categories: Store-and-Forward, Remote Monitoring, and Real-Time Interactive Services.

Store-and-Forward

Store-and-forward telemedicine, also called asynchronous, leapfrogs the need for a medical professional to meet with a patient in person or even in real-time. Instead, the patient’s information – like medical images, records, and questionnaires – can be sent directly to the physician as-needed. The term refers to storing and forwarding information for review at a later time. Think email or direct message rather than video or telephone call.

With proper infrastructure and processes, this approach to telemedicine saves time and cost for both patients and caregivers alike, allowing more flexibility in scheduling and how/when patients report their symptoms or concerns.

This practice has been commonplace in the fields of dermatology, radiology, and pathology for years, but it's increasingly being adopted in primary care. Rex MD's telemedicine platform relies in-part on store-and-forward methods to simplify the doctor-patient interaction process.

Remote Monitoring

Remote monitoring methods deploy a range of technologies and devices to monitor the health and clinical metrics of a patient remotely, either in real-time using algorithms to alert providers to issues, or to track particular metrics for evaluation and diagnosis after the fact. This is most commonly used in the management of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.

Some benefits commonly associated with remote monitoring include cost-effectiveness, ease-of-use for patients, more frequent and accurate monitoring, and greater overall patient satisfaction. The most common application is for heart rate and EKG readings, where a pacemaker or EKG monitor can send a patient's data directly to a care provider or centralized monitoring center. They can be used both to detect acute issues (like a heart attack) or to diagnose new conditions.

Real-Time Interactive Services

Real-Time Interactive services enable immediate advice and diagnosis for patients that require medical attention, help in diagnosing symptoms, and even access to some medications or interventions. Multiple mediums can be used for this purpose, including online portals, phone calls, or video calls.

A real-time consultation involves the description of symptoms and an assessment by the physician that is similar to what would typically transpire during an in-person appointment.

Some of the various types of real-time telemedicine include:

Mental Health. This approach to telemedicine includes psychological consultation and assessment via phone or video with patients who have, or are suspected of having, various cognitive disorders or mental health concerns. It may include a prescribing physician, but can also be a simple as a therapy session conducted remotely.
Primary Care. Primary care telemedicine visits allow patients to describe their symptoms and receive treatment, advice or medications for minor and even some moderate medical conditions or situations. These may include urinary tract infections, ear infections, the flu, the common cold, erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and more.
Telenursing. This refers to the use of communication technologies to provide remote nursing services. Consultations can be done to monitor conditions and symptoms, much like an in-person daily caretaker. This form of telemedicine is rapidly growing in favor due to the low cost and high accessibility for patients, especially those living in rural areas or not in need of constant care.
Telepharmacy. This approach provides pharmaceutical or medication advice to patients when direct contact with a pharmacist isn't possible. Medications can be monitored and patients can receive advice over the phone or by video.
Telerehabilitation. Increasingly, rehabilitation processes can be done remotely, including clinical assessments and therapy for patients going through physical rehab. This usually relies on a strong visual element, with video conference and webcams commonly used.

Telemedicine has technically been around since the 1950s when healthcare providers started offering remote services on landline telephones. With the advancement of technology, telemedicine has expanded to include online portals managed by a personal doctor, video software for remote consultations, and apps managed by companies offering telemedicine services.

How Does Telemedicine Work?

When it comes to emergency situations like a heart attack or stroke, deep cuts, lacerations, or broken bones that require an x-ray or worse, telemedicine is clearly not an appropriate service. Any type of injury or medical emergency that requires hands-on care should be handled by a medical professional in person.

That said, telemedicine can still be an extremely useful way to deal with simple medical issues and follow up consultations. These are a variety of situations where telemedicine is a great alternative to traditional healthcare:

The diagnosis of common medical problems such as headaches, sore throats, back pain, or digestive problems.
Questions related to various medical issues for home treatments and remedies
Post-treatment check ins and follow up for chronic care
Accelerated refill of medical prescriptions
During holidays, weekends, late at night, or other situations where regular in-person medical care isn't possible
The inability for the patient to leave their home due to sickness, weather conditions, transportation, or proximity (people living in rural areas)

The Benefits of Telemedicine

The driving force behind the incredible growth in telemedicine has been a combination of more accessible technologies and the COVID 19 pandemic. Using these services, patients can get medical advice even if they live in a remote area, have a busy schedule, or are infected with a contagious virus.

One of the largest benefits is the financial savings for both patients and care providers, as telemedicine can help to reduce costs at all levels. One study from 2017 found that the average telemedicine visits costs as little as $79 (and even lower at Rex MD), while the average in-person doctor’s visit is $149, and the average trip to the emergency room costs $1,734!

As the popularity of telemedicine continues to grow, more and more health insurance plans are starting to offer coverage for these consultations as well. Some states have even enacted laws requiring health insurance plans to reimburse telemedicine visits at the same rate that they currently reimburse face-to-face doctor visits. Medicare also offers reimbursement for telemedicine services so long as they meet the necessary federal requirements and eligibility.

Some Tips For Using Real-Time Telemedicine

Making the transition from in-person to online appointments can be a difficult process for some people, particularly those less familiar with the necessary technology. While the millennial demographic views these technologies as second-nature, older generations may find the process confusing or cumbersome. By taking a few minutes before an appointment to go through these tips, your visit can be easier and faster.

Use the best camera that you have. Whether this camera is attached to your phone, laptop, tablet, or desktop, make sure that your camera provides a clear picture. For most people, their mobile phone is a great option.
Test the camera beforehand. Make sure that you understand how to use your camera before your online visit. Practice using the camera or video conferencing service with a family member or friend beforehand.
Test the sound and video on the device. While most devices will have built-in microphones and speakers, they may not turn on automatically or allow the telemedicine website or software to access them. If you can, conduct a video call with someone before your appointment starts to ensure that everything is working correctly.
Prepare a private space. Especially if you’ll be video calling on speaker, make sure you have a private space to discuss personal medical information with your doctor.
Prepare a list of questions and concerns in advance. It’s important to be prepared for your appointment so that you and your doctor can discuss everything that you're worried about.

The Takeaway: As technology continues to progress, so will telemedicine, and the variety of services now offered online are making many simple diagnoses and treatments easier and more affordable than ever.

There will always be a need for in-person visits to the doctor, especially in the case of an emergency. However, for follow-ups, general checkups, or questions about symptoms and minor health issues, telemedicine is supplanting the traditional family doctor visit, for the betterment of consumers and the system alike.

For sensitive issues like erectile dysfunction, Rex MD is making physician visits and shipped prescription medications simple and easy to access, if prescribed. Get started yourself with our breezy online consultation.