In this series we are seeking out the transforming technology of Virtual Care. How does virtual care fit into what we know as telemedicine? What are the newest innovations and products in virtual care? For telemedicine policy and reimbursement issues, read our regular reporting on Telehealth on RCM Answers.
Hashtags to follow for updates on virtual care:
Industry News:
Comment Period Closed on Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2019; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Quality Payment Program; and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program
Look for final rule to issue new codes for Virtual Care. The proposed rule stated, “We now recognize that advances in communication technology have changed patients’ and practitioners’ expectations regarding the quantity and quality of information that can be conveyed via communication technology. From the ubiquity of synchronous, audio/video applications to the increased use of patient-facing health portals, a broader range of services can be furnished by health care professionals via communication technology as compared to 20 years ago.”
#NYP‘s President and CEO Dr. Steven Corwin talks to @Forbes about how the hospital’s #NYP OnDemand #telemedicine services are changing the way we approach healthcare: https://t.co/je34XChyuW pic.twitter.com/vdE3fDD6oK
— NewYork-Presbyterian (@nyphospital) September 4, 2018
Idaho’s biggest health system launches a virtual hospital
St. Luke’s Health System is spending $4 million to open a virtual hospital to centralize and grow its telehealth program and better serve the state’s rural population. St. Luke’s Health System, Boise is Idaho’s largest healthcare system with eight medical centers, 1,000 total beds and 200 clinics.
Look who’s made this List! Our own awesomeness @MarkMilliganDPT @AnywhereHealth #pinksocks #hcldr https://t.co/JlvtLNCfME
— Judith Lindsay (@judithconsult) September 7, 2018
To Read:
From the Synzi Blog
How Virtual Care Can Help Rural Hospitals Expand Their Role – According to the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), the number of rural hospital closures has risen to 87 in the last 8 years. In addition, iVantage’s 2017 Rural Relevance Study reports that 41 percent of rural hospitals operate at a negative margin. Rural hospitals across the country are struggling to survive. The closures create a large gap in healthcare resources available in rural communities and communities can fall apart without these critically needed hospitals.
The Power of Partnership: Visiting Nurses and Virtual Care – Home health agencies are in a highly competitive situation as they seek to retain existing and attain additional professional referral sources. Successful agencies acknowledge the importance of key metrics such as readmission rates and customer satisfaction/service ratings while their core focus remains delivering compassionate patient care. As referral sources (local hospitals, payers, providers, etc.) are seeking home health partners that can help their CMS ratings, these organizations will turn to those agencies which can help improve quality scores, reduce readmissions, and enhance health and financial outcomes for all stakeholders. Being able to deliver results for patients and referral partners is balanced with being able to reduce costs for all stakeholders.
When it comes to #telemedicine, relationships matter. Respondents who had a prior, in-person visit followed by a telemedicine interaction were significantly more likely to be satisfied with their telemedicine visit. https://t.co/UMsXz1EsTN pic.twitter.com/5Ayc4kFoj2
— Rock Health (@Rock_Health) September 3, 2018
Upcoming Events:
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.
Don’t miss #ATAEDGE this September in Austin, where you’ll explore trends, technologies and participatory design for monitoring health at the point-of-care. View the full agenda: https://t.co/dW9UoWnPyf pic.twitter.com/0hwAWfNPag
— American Telemed (@AmericanTelemed) August 29, 2018
SPS 2018
What: Telemedicine & Telehealth Service Provider Summit (SPS)
When: October 8-9, 2018
Where: Glendale, AZ
Join us for the 4th Annual Telemedicine & Telehealth Service Provider Summit this October 8th & 9th in Glendale, Arizona!
Visit https://t.co/oUgsx0W8vy for comprehensive event information & register today!#Telemedicine #Telehealth #Summit #Glendale #Arizona #JoinUs #TTSPS2018 pic.twitter.com/26buEkXXOI— Arizona Telemedicine Program (@UA_ATP) April 4, 2018
Defining the industry according to the AAPF
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).
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.
Virtual Care is a patient service model for healthcare providers.