expedited transmission of MRI’s
expedited transmission of MRI’s
interact and learn about their disease process and exacerbation prevention
Respond to the post bellow, offering additional/alternative ideas regarding opportunities and risks related to the observations shared.
MAIN POST
Introduction
In my psychiatric facility, we have introduced telepsych which is the same as telehealth. This is where the psychiatrist can see patients briefly from a remote location. The doctor can be in another country and still see his patients, give orders to the nurse to write, and do initial psych assessments. This is all done through the web via chatting, video, skype and phone. All these new technologies are very convenient for the doctor. This is an inpatient facility but it can also be done from home when a patient needs to see the doctor for non-emergent issues.
Benefits and Risks
There are benefits and risks to using telehealth. According to Harper, there are 5 benefits. Those are convenience, less time in the waiting room, expedited transmission of MRI’s or X-rays for a second opinion, privacy assurance (Harper, 2012, p. 1). These are benefits that help the patient. Some benefits for the physician would be that they can see more patients and from remote places. On the other hand, there are a few risks as well. Some risks include, electronic glitches, physician resistance, and inadequate assessment. Physician resistance would be about change and change is hard to do. The nurse is a big part of the telehealth scene as the doctor will be giving her orders via phone or video. Telehealth is still a new and evolving technology; while the offsite interventions or contacts often lead to less time being wasted on non-care oriented tasks because of the efficiencies offered by the technology applications, its use must never be associated with less care (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018, p. 361). Glitches can be inherent to this type of technology and potential hackers can disrupt internet/web using technology. Privacy can ultimately be at risk.
Legislatively, December 21, 2017 – Some 63 pieces of legislation focusing on telehealth or telemedicine were approved by 34 state Legislatures this year, according to the Center for Connected Health Policy (“Mobile healthcare, telemedicine, telehealth, BYOD,” 2017, p. 1). It seems that each state is adding to the services of telehealth and it appears there is an ongoing discussion of regulations as far as Medicare and private payer insurances are concerned.
