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Jackson Healthcare, a healthcare staffing company, serves more than seven million patients in over 1,300 healthcare facilities and helps hospitals optimize real-time patient care logistics. The company recently released its Physician Trends 2016 Report which collects data, surveys, and commentary on U.S. physicians. It includes data on supply & demand, regulatory impacts, compensation and reimbursement, outlook and satisfaction, practice environment, and employment. Becker’s Health IT and CIO Review (@BeckersHR) highlighted some of the report’s findings regarding several key statistics about telemedicine today and projections for the future. All of the numbers are important and some may be surprising.
Impact of telemedicine in the high-stakes, high-cost ICU
Hospitals are always looking for new ways to improve care while at the same time trying to keep costs low. Telemedicine is emerging as an important example of a technology-enabled service that can achieve this goal. DOTmed HealthCare Business News (@DOTmedcom) reports that according to recent data and real-world examples, telemedicine can have a positive impact even in a high-stakes, high-cost area of the hospital like the ICU. New telehealth technology is being used to support models that can have dramatic impact, such as reducing ICU mortality 30 to 40 percent. These results are achieved through a continual collaborative 24 x 7 x 365 care tele-ICU model that connects bedside care providers and systems with intensivists and critical care nurses working in a tele-ICU care center.
Senate Finance intros CHRONIC Care bill
Politico (@politico) reports the long-awaited chronic care bill from Senate Finance recently dropped in draft form. As anticipated, it would expand telemedicine reimbursement — for patients in shared savings ACOs, or for those in home dialysis therapy, to take two examples. The telemedicine industry and its advocates were keen about the bill’s possibilities. The American Telemedicine Association’s CEO, Jonathan Linkous, hailed the bill as “strategically crafted, responsible and budget sensitive.”
Congratulations – MyTelemedicine named one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America”
MyTelemedicine, a National Telemedicine Software and Service Provider, was recently recognized as one of the “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America” by Entrepreneur magazine’s (@EntMagazine) Entrepreneur 360 List, the most comprehensive analysis of private companies in America. Based on this study forged by Entrepreneur, MyTelemedicine is recognized as a well-rounded company that has mastered a balance of impact, innovation, growth and leadership.
Congrats to TeleHealth Services – Winner of Top Communications Company Award by N.C. Technology Association
Technology companies are big in North Carolina which has become one of the nation’s premier technology hubs. North Carolina is ranked second in the nation for Information Technology employment growth with tech companies across North Carolina providing jobs for more than 250,000 workers with approximately $75 billion in sales revenues. Therefore, being awarded the state’s top communications company winner at the 2016 N.C. Tech Awards (@NCTA) ceremony for the statewide technology industry association is a big deal. The worthy recipient, Telehealth Services (@TIGREddie), is a national provider of interactive patient engagement and education solutions that develops, sells and supports technology and services to more hospitals across the nation than all industry competitors combined.
Congrats @TIGREddie winner of the #NCTechAwards Communications Technology Company of the Year Award! pic.twitter.com/P50WAek27A
— NC Technology Assn (@NCTA) November 11, 2016
Cerner and American Well to Embed Telehealth Capabilities into Cerner EHR
Cerner (@Cerner), a global health care technology provider, announced a telehealth agreement with American Well (@americanwell), a national telehealth company. Together, the companies will deliver a virtual health care experience that will integrate the American Well platform with Cerner’s electronic health record (EHR). The integration will enable providers to manage the health and care of patients beyond the walls of the health system.
Teladoc Announces Pilot Project With Red Cross to Provide Telehealth During Crises
Teladoc (@teladoc) and the American Red Cross (@RedCross) have decided to team up if need be to treat the overwhelming amount of patients possible during a crisis. When doctors are stretched during a large-scale disaster telemedicine services will be provided to alleviate the strain. The partnership with a telemedicine provider is a first for the American Red Cross and the pilot will only kick in during a crisis when live doctors cannot be reached.
iHEAR Announces EarPiNG – A New Telehealth Service to Remotely Customize Hearing Aids by Hearing Professionals
iHear Medical (@iHearMedical), a provider of web-enabled hearing solutions, recently announced the launch of EarPiNG, which connects consumers with licensed hearing professionals for remote customization of iHEAR’s new generation of hearing aids. EarPiNG is the latest addition to iHEAR’s telehealth platform, which offers consumers comprehensive online tools to manage their own hearing care—from hearing screening to self-programming of the hearing device—all from the convenience of home. EarPiNG is the first telehealth service offered to consumers directly by a hearing aid manufacturer to improve access and affordability of hearing healthcare.
AARP Pennsylvania Hails Governor’s Signature on Bill Expanding Telehealth Options for State Residents
Pennsylvania has both the nation’s third-largest rural population and fourth-oldest population making telehealth services especially important to the state. That’s why AARP (@AARPPA) Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh was so pleased when Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation that will allow licensed physicians in one state to treat patients in other states via telehealth technologies.
Telepharmacy Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 – 2024
There is no doubting the exponential surge of the telemedicine and telehealth market. The market is poised to expand at a significant rate in the next few years. Additionally, according to a report by Transparency Market Research (@research_market), the advent of telepharmacy is expected to substantially impact the telemedicine and telehealth market in terms of enhancing its rural reach as well as worldwide penetration. Telepharmacy includes the delivery of pharmaceutical care and performing medication order verification via telecommunications from a remote setting. Using telepharmacy, pharmacists are able to provide pharma care to patients at a different geographical location than theirs. This state-of-the-art technology ensures easy access to quality health care, primarily in rural and medically backward areas.
Texans, GE and Houston Methodist Collaborate on Concussion Care
The Houston Texans and GE are collaborating with the Houston Methodist Concussion Center to fund a two-year pilot project to bring specialized concussion care via telemedicine to athletes in rural areas. This pilot project will make telemedicine concussion care available to student athletes at 19 rural school districts. When a student athlete is pulled from a game or practice with a suspected concussion, a Houston Methodist athletic trainer will go to the school or training facility to administer a comprehensive concussion evaluation, including a neurologic and neuropsychological examination. A Houston Methodist Concussion Center physician will direct the examination via a HIPAA-compliant online video connection to provide a diagnosis and outline a treatment plan.
CMS Covered Telehealth Services
You can download the list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth on the CMS website