Advertisement
Telemedicine

Experiences With Telehealth: Insight From Your Peers

Many of you have been using telemedicine these last couple of months more so than ever. Consultant360 has been collecting your input on the challenges and successes of your audio and visual appointments. Here are some highlights of what you have shared.

We first asked about your use of telehealth. In late March and early April, we posed the following question to our audience: “The impact of COVID-19 in the United States continues to grow. In response, have you transitioned to using telehealth with your patients?”

Here is the breakdown of your responses:

Poll

At that time, 90% of you were using telemedicine in some capacity. Here is what some of you said about why you switched to telehealth:  

“My age (68) and sex (male) were important in [my] decision not to see patients face-to-face.”

“I am in an area with [a] very high infection rate. [I am] using telehealth as frequently as possible.”

“[I] started with a mix of face-to-face and telehealth [and] switched to 100% telehealth as of 4/1/2020.”

“I’m to about 75% telehealth. [I am] seeing only babies that need vaccines and adult patients that really need to be seen, and I see them first thing in the a.m.”

“Even if the patient absolutely insists on coming to the office, the patient is screened over the phone with specific questions regarding coronavirus. Then they are screened before they can enter the building, and their temperature is taken. Only then will the consideration for a face-to-face visit be made.”

Now, as state officials are easing their stay-at-home orders, we wanted to see if your use of telehealth has changed. Here is what you said:

Poll

Besides your frequency of telehealth use, we also collected input on the challenges you have experienced with the technology’s implementation. 

We asked: “What has been the most challenging obstacle you have faced during your transition to telehealth?” 

The most common responses were those related to issues of technology, reimbursement, and lack of in-person contact. Your responses for your most challenging obstacle included the following: 

  • Patients who do not have a computer or scanner are unable to complete new patient paperwork before consultation. 
  • Not being able to complete a physical exam and not being able to use all of your senses when sitting eye-to-eye. Lack of ability to touch, palpate, percuss, and auscultate.
  • Reimbursement.
  • There is a false assumption that patients are computer savvy. I have found that that is not the case. Computer literacy of patient. 
  • Patients being able to connect appropriately and on time. 
  • Calling and switching all the patients to our telemedicine method. It is time consuming but helpful in the end. Scheduling telehealth visits.
  • Internet connectivity. Quality of phone/tablet camera and lighting, lack of 3-dimensional perspective. Poor quality of the audio. Integrity of the internet connection.
  • Patients do not have a smartphone or computer. Those who do have outdated download/upload capacity, which limits the video feed and audio.
  • Patients unable to connect to telehealth services due to lack of technological knowledge or out-of-date technology. Patients (senior citizens) have simple cellphones, not smartphones. Or, they do not know how to install an app or will not agree to do so.
  • Elderly patients being able to hear me.
  • There is no course that taught best practices in provider telehealth. We need a certification course for providers.
  • Getting patients to keep appointments. 
  • Getting patients to do bloodwork.
  • Patients who have not been active in practice are seeking free advice/refills.
  • Patients with only cell phones are at times difficult to communicate with. I have also had a patient misrepresent herself, pretending to be the patient when it was the wife. 
  • Lack of willingness/ability of caregivers in facilities to participate.

 

Gastroenterology Consultant Advisory Board Member Sara Horst, MD, MPH, gives her first-hand tips for using telehealth to treat patients, how to overcome IT issues, and how to handle insurance reporting in our video, “Teleheath for Beginners.” Watch the video here, and read the video transcript here.

We have also received feedback about the successes you have experienced with telehealth: 

“Using telehealth has been a boon to our practice. We would not have been motivated to do so in [the] absence of the current world circumstances, but it is very rewarding for us; and the patients are glad not to have to travel to appointments.” 

“This is paving the way for the future, I think, and will be something that will help with shortages of providers and give care in rural areas.”

“Some patients are having a bit of trouble, but the ones who are able to connect love it. I love it too except for my poor, aching back sitting at a computer for hours on end instead of walking around in my office!”

“The use has been pretty seamless at times, and I believe it is a convenient way to take care of people and actually sit down in their homes and to get a good history and to review their intake. [It] saves on the environment with use of cars, etc.”

Cardiology Consultant Advisory Board Member Seth Martin, MD, MHS, shared his experience with the implementation of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and why he thinks that this "taste of convenience" will drive the continued adoption of the technology even after the pandemic. Watch the video here, or read the video transcript here.

For more insight into implementing telehealth, visit COVID-19 Care360.

How has your experience with telehealth compare with your peers’? Share your input about your use, challenges, and successes of telemedicine by filling out the form below.