monitoring of medication changes,

monitoring of medication changes,

Patient Care

Patient care benefits of telemedicine are endless. These benefits include less travel time, real time monitoring of medication changes, monitors patients with chronic condition like COPD and CHF closely to prevent or address acute episode (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). This cuts down on office visits and travel time. More importantly, healthcare management is achieved sooner improving overall patient outcomes. Patient’s rely heavily on monitoring from home creating a potential risk. Often these patients with chronic care management are not compliant with transmitting information or information is sent inconsistently making it difficult to assist with achieving overall goals.

Legislation

Telehealth technology allows providers to treat remotely defined by state-by-state licensure (Milstead & Short, 2019). The benefit of state regulation is the ability to closely monitor practice and outcomes on a state level. The federal government is considering nationalizing the regulations for telehealth. This presents a dilemma as physicians practicing telehealth will require multi state licenses.

I believe the most promising healthcare trends impacting healthcare technology and nursing practice is the advancement of telemedicine. The ability to remotely monitor patients and maintain a consistent record provide information for time sensitive diagnosis and treatment. The impact this has on nursing is profound. Nurses will be responsible not only for monitoring but for teaching these patients how to manage these problems themselves. The nurse’s consistent communication allows for education not only with medication but with diet, exercise, weight loss and overall prevention. Telehealth is a promising tool to the new culture of preventative healthcare. While patients are in the program, they can interact and learn about their disease process and exacerbation prevention. Telehealth is a win win.

References