We are combining our Telemedicine and Virtual Care reports into Telemedicine 2020. We are seeking out the latest developments around Telemedicine. How is telemedicine used to benefit patients and care givers? What are the newest innovations in telemedicine technology? How telehealth and virtual care fit into the realm of Telemedicine.
Listen:
Telehealth Playlist
The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines telehealth as “the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.” To learn more and find out about the latest in telehealth tune in to the episodes on this playlist.
Industry News:
Community Health Foundation of Puerto Rico (CHFPR) selects MediVisum© for Its COVID-19 Mobile Outreach Program’s Telehealth Patient Care Platform
Community Health Foundation of Puerto Rico has selected MediVisum© as its telehealth platform for remote patient care and use by its Covid-19 Mobile Outreach Program to support and track efforts across its service region during the pandemic.
Anchor HealthXchange Launches Home Care Workforce Talent Development Initiative with MediVisum Telehealth Solutions as Technology Partner for Remote Patient Care
Anchor Group NA Corp launches its 2020 Talent Development Series with a three-hour training session for home care managers and executives in the long-term health care sector in New York. The strategic consulting firm will also officially announce the CareStar Awards, which recognize and celebrate the home care workers who stand on the front line daily, supporting over 500,000 disabled and senior NY residents and their families. A portion of the series’ proceeds will fuel the March 2021 awards.
Vidyo, Inc. and Cloudbreak Health, LLC Announce Partnership to Enable U.S. Health Systems to Deliver Better Virtual Care
Vidyo, Inc. (@vidyo) a provider of embedded video technology, and Cloudbreak Health, LLC (@CloudbreakHLTH), a provider of unified telemedicine solutions, announced a strategic agreement to jointly market the Vidyo telemedicine user experience with the award winning MARTTI (My Accessible Real-Time Trusted Interpreter) Video Medical Interpreting service.
Amwell Raises $194 Million, Committing to Expand the Best and Largest Digital Health Platform
Amwell (@amwell), a national telehealth company, announced it has closed its Series C financing round, adding $194 million in funding across two tranches. Amwell will continue to ensure that clinical encounters remain fully integrated in existing workflows and enveloped with healthcare-appropriate clinical and administrative information, management, and reporting.
350+ Indigenous organizations to benefit from Teladoc Health telemedicine services
Teladoc Health (@teladochealth) announced that its telemedicine services will now cover First Nations and Inuit populations through its partnership with Johnston Group, a leader in benefits and insurance options administration. Offered through Johnston Group’s specialty employee benefits program, CINUP, Teladoc Health telemedicine services will help more than 350 First Nations and Inuit employers close gaps in care access for their employees, many of whom live hours from the nearest primary care physician or hospital.
Heartbeat Health and The American College of Cardiology Join to Revolutionize Cardiology With Breakthrough Virtual Care
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Heartbeat Health, the first telemedicine and virtual care platform built by cardiologists for cardiologists, are joining forces to transform telehealth into comprehensive virtual care by ensuring cardiology practices around the world can incorporate clinical data into virtual patient communications to make real-time, informed clinical care decisions.
MDLIVE Expands Leadership Team with Appointment of Cynthia Zelis, MD, MBA, as Chief Medical Officer
MDLIVE Inc. (@MDLIVEInc) announced the appointment of Cynthia Zelis, MD, MBA, as chief medical officer. Dr. Zelis joins MDLIVE at a time of record growth across all business segments as individuals throughout the U.S. turn to telehealth for medical, behavioral health and dermatological care amid continued concerns about exposure to COVID-19.
The ATA Announces Intel Corporation as Technology Partner to Create COVID-19 Rapid Response Technology Best Practices Initiative
The ATA (@AmericanTelemed) announced a new partnership with Intel to help healthcare delivery systems, hospitals, community members, clinicians, and other stakeholders assess, triage, treat, and manage patients and community populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Rapid Response Technology Best Practices Initiative will include a series of reports and blog posts, public webinars, and video and audio content of telehealth applications, best practices, opportunities, and challenges.
Telehealth Claim Lines Increase 4,347 Percent Nationally from March 2019 to March 2020
Telehealth claim lines increased 4,347 percent nationally from 0.17 percent of medical claim lines in March 2019 to 7.52 percent in March 2020, according to new data from FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker. The data represent the privately insured population, excluding Medicare and Medicaid. In an indication that the growth was related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase was even greater in the Northeast, where the pandemic hit hardest in March. Telehealth claim lines grew 15,503 percent in the Northeast, from 0.07 percent of medical claim lines in March 2019 to 11.07 percent in March 2020.
Product News:
ROKiT Launches a New Telemedicine App to Provide On-demand Access to Medical Care, 24/7
The ROKiT Group (@rokit), creators of ROKiT Phones, the glasses-free 3D smartphones, announced the launch of a new telemedicine service powered by MeMD®. Previously only available for owners of a ROKiT phone, this telemedicine service is now available via web or as a free app for any mobile phone user, and can be downloaded via the iTunes App Store and Google Play for Android store.
To Read:
Doctor.com’s new survey of 1,800 patients reveals surprising trends about telemedicine adoption as medical practices and hospitals begin to reopen for elective procedures
Doctor.com (@doctor) has released its study, “Telemedicine Adoption in the Age of COVID-19 and Beyond,” based on the results of a nationwide survey of more than 1,800 adults. The findings highlight vast patient adoption of telemedicine during the current healthcare climate as well as the need for easy, fast, and secure telemedicine services in the months and years to come.
Survey Underscores Telehealth’s Benefits During COVID-19 and Beyond
Telehealth has been a resounding success as healthcare organizations quickly implemented solutions to remotely care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey of nearly 200 digital healthcare executives conducted by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (@CIOCHIME). Telehealth’s rapid implementation is testament to the skills and resourcefulness of these organizations’ IT leadership, who shared insights on their greatest gains, challenges and future needs.
All About Telehealth Infographic
Check out HealthcareNow Radio’s telehealth infographic. It highlights the top benefits, types of services, mechanisms for delivery, how payment works, and how COVID-19 has increased the demand for telehealth.
Making the Cut:
GlobalMed Wins MedTech Award
The MedTech Breakthrough Awards recognize the top companies, people, platforms and products in the health, fitness and medical technology industries today. GlobalMed was chosen as one of the Mobile Communications & TeleHealth recipients for Best Virtual Care Solution. Best Overall TeleHealth Solution went to AmWell. Six additional companies were honored in this category as well.
COVID-19 News
15% of US broadband households report increase in telehealth service usage as a result of COVID-19 pandemic
New research from Parks Associates, fielded nationwide between March 8th and April 3rd, finds 15% of US broadband households report their usage of telehealth/remote doctor services has increased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Zipnosis announces an end-to-end solution for employers to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 through screening, testing, and treatment for employees
Zipnosis (@zipnosis) announced a new, end-to-end return to work solution: ZipCheck. ZipCheck manages the ongoing COVID-19 screening, testing, treatment, and population management for employers looking to continue operations while mitigating risk and protecting their employees’ and customers’ safety.
UArizona Telemedicine Program Receives Key Federal Funds to Help Communities Combat COVID-19
The Arizona Telemedicine Program at the University of Arizona Health Sciences has been awarded $828,000 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide critical assistance to communities as they combat COVID-19. The funding, awarded through the department’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will be directed to the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC), a subsidiary of ATP.
FCC Surpasses $100 Million in Approved COVID-19 Program Applications
The Federal Communications Commission’s (@fcc) Wireline Competition Bureau approved an additional 67 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Health care providers in both urban and rural areas of the country will use this $20.18 million in funding to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. To date, the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was authorized by the CARES Act, has approved funding for 305 health care providers in 42 states plus Washington, D.C. for a total of $104.98 million in funding.
COVID-19 Webinars:
MediVisum & Answers Media Network
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 2:00 pm ET
Register for this event.
Twitter:@HealthITAnswers
Current and Future State of Telehealth – a Virtual Panel Discussion with Industry Leaders – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought industry-wide attention and sweeping legislative initiatives to telehealth as a means for care delivery in a safe, secure and socially-distant environment. This seismic shift in moving telehealth from a point of very low utilization to the primary means of providing healthcare services is effecting all aspects of the healthcare delivery spectrum. What will be the lasting impact of this shift on providers, payers and patients as the pandemic abates? Is the more widespread use and adoption of telehealth services and technologies here to stay? On our second annual panel discussion, our all-star panel of industry leaders discuss where we sit today, still in the midst of a pandemic, and what the future holds for telehealth.
Kareo (@GoKareo)
Telehealth, Coding and Billing Guidance for COVID-19 – Kareo understands in these uncertain times, independent medical practices and their billing companies need to keep abreast of the updates that pertain to them during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help, Kareo has put together a Telehealth Billing and Coding Resource Guide, based on Kareo’s highly attended webinar that was held recently on the same topic.
Using Rhinogram to Flatten the Curve of COVID-19
Don’t miss the free webinar from Rhinogram (@rhinogram) on Friday March 27 @ 11:00 am EST. Dr. James Thomas shares how your practice can flatten the curve of COVID-19 using Rhinogram. Continue delivering high-quality care through virtual visits and remote check-ins. Plus, internal communication tools to keep your entire team connected and informed.
Rhinogram’s HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform will help flatten the curve of COVID-19, keeping patients, providers and their teams safe. Start texting with patients today. Custom templates and tools will make messaging even easier. Rhinogram can have your office live within hours. Sign-up today and they will waive your setup fee. *Limited time offer
Events:
ATA2020 Conference & Expo
June 22-26, 2020 – Virtual Event
Hashtag: #ATA2020
Register for this event.
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and restrictions for in-person events, ATA2020 is going 100% virtual. ATA2020 will come to you as a fully online event this summer. ATA believes this is the right decision for their community. Learn more about what that means to you as a participant.
ATA2020 is the world’s largest telehealth innovation and networking event. It’s where providers, technology developers, business professionals and leaders from across the healthcare sector come together to have an in-depth, thoughtful, critical discussion about the future of health.
The American Telemedicine Association Events
ATA is a non-profit association based in Washington DC with a membership network of more than 10,000 industry leaders and healthcare professionals. We are a leading telehealth association helping to transform healthcare by improving the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Find their next event.
Defining the industry according to the AAFP
Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. It occurs using a telecommunications infrastructure between a patient (at an originating or spoke site) and a physician or other practitioner licensed to practice medicine (at a distant or hub site).
Virtual Care is a patient service model for healthcare providers.
Telehealth refers to a broad collection of electronic and telecommunications technologies that support health care delivery and services from distant locations. Telehealth technologies support virtual medical, health, and education services.
Hashtags to follow for updates on Telemedicine: