Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: Shaping the Future of Patient Care
By Steven Cumper
Once a rarity only offered by select doctor’s offices, telehealth is now standard in healthcare systems across the country and around the world—and that’s a good thing. It increases access to quality care for everyone. In eliminating many of the barriers associated with traditional appointments, we’re making it easier for people to live happy, healthy, and long lives.
Yet apart from the surface-level characteristic of convenience, few people fully understand or appreciate how telehealth defines the care landscape today. It’s even more unknown how telehealth will shape the future of healthcare. This article aims to put it all into perspective with an overview of the current state of telehealth, its benefits, and the technological innovations driving its growth.
Benefits of telehealth and remote monitoring for patient care
Even before it became mainstream, advocates touted the potential of telehealth and remote monitoring tools to revolutionize healthcare delivery. Now, with widespread adoption, we’re seeing these benefits materialize.
Prime among them is improved access. Digital communication tools allow patients in rural or underserved areas to connect with specialists without traveling long distances. That could be lifesaving for someone who might otherwise put off doctor’s appointments due to the inconvenience of on-site visits.
For those already diagnosed with a chronic disease, remote monitoring enables early intervention by continuously tracking vital signs and symptoms outside of the clinical setting.
In every case, fewer in-person visits mean lower overhead for providers and less expense for patients.
Virtual visits further eliminate travel time and waiting room delays, reduce exposure risks to infectious diseases, and minimize disruptions to daily routines. This flexibility is especially valuable for patients with mobility issues, busy schedules, and individuals who are immunocompromised.
The impressive technological innovations driving telehealth
The word “telehealth” originates from what it used to be limited to: healthcare appointments conducted via telephone. The practice has existed for decades but didn’t become widespread until the pandemic gave doctors and patients no other option. It forced society to innovate beyond the bounds of audio-only interactions and invest in video solutions specifically for the healthcare sector.
Today, telehealth encompasses a wide range of technologies and services. High-definition video conferencing allows for face-to-face interactions, while secure messaging platforms facilitate quick communication between patients and providers. Wearable devices and smartphone apps enable real-time monitoring of vital signs, activity levels, and medication adherence.
The integration of electronic health records (EHR) with telehealth systems has been a real game-changer. Seamless data sharing improves continuity of care and reduces the risk of medical errors. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms are being employed to analyze vast amounts of health data, helping providers make more informed decisions and predict potential health issues before they become severe.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is another exciting frontier. Connected devices like smart inhalers, insulin pumps, and cardiac monitors can transmit data directly to healthcare providers so they can monitor patients’ health status from near and far. For example, a connected blood pressure monitor can automatically send alerts to healthcare providers if a patient’s blood pressure rises above a certain threshold. This real-time monitoring allows for immediate intervention, potentially preventing more serious health complications.
Smart beds can track sleep patterns and adjust positions to prevent bedsores, while connected fall detection systems can immediately alert caregivers if an elderly patient falls. These innovations not only improve patient safety but also provide peace of mind for family members and caregivers.
The challenges and considerations waiting to be overcome
For every reason to implement telehealth and remote patient monitoring systems, there’s a challenge or consideration to counter it. The pandemic drastically sped up public interest and trust in technology, but we still have far to go.
Certain demographics and age groups remain hesitant to get on board. Older generations, in particular, are both wary of the quality of care they’ll receive through telehealth and face barriers to adoption due to limited access to or familiarity with the necessary technology.
Privacy and security concerns also remain at the forefront of telehealth discussions. As healthcare data becomes increasingly digitized and transmitted over networks, the risk of breaches and unauthorized access grows. Robust encryption protocols and secure platforms are essential, but they must be balanced with user-friendliness to ensure widespread adoption.
Conclusion
Out of all of the potential use cases for today’s high-speed internet and cloud-based communication technology, healthcare is one of the most valuable. It’s worth every ounce of effort we can give to continue developing this space and seek out ways to overcome the obstacles that currently exist.
Steven Cumper, B.App.Sc. (Osteo.), M.Ost., is a businessman with a strong background in biomedical science and osteopathic medicine. He founded Medshop & ScrubsIQ while studying at RMIT University in Australia, expanding its reach to markets in Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Malaysia. In September 2021, the Bunzl Group acquired a majority stake in Medshop, but Cumper remains involved as the Managing Director (Medshop Group).