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ambulance driving through on country road artistic

swyMed Telehealth Solution for Rural Georgia Gains National Attention

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A recent article highlighted the collaboration between Emory University’s PAVES program, DT Research, and swyMed to expand Emergency Medical Service (EMS) capabilities in Rural Georgia in order to improve access to healthcare. By using these technologies, Washington County Regional Medical Center (WCRMC) connects ambulance personnel with remote physicians and specialists in real-time video medicine consultations, enabling faster patient evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment during transport to the most appropriate care setting rather than waiting until arrival at the closest Emergency Department, which may not have the best tools and resources available for that patient’s particular situation. As a result, WCRMC has documented significantly reduced time-to-care, improved triage, and more efficient use of physician resources, leading to enhanced overall patient care without increasing the workload of EMS staff. 

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Demonstration of PAVES telemedicine powered by swyMed

See swyMed in Action at Emory University

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“Seeing is believing,” as the saying goes. EMS1 recently published an article describing excellent examples of how swyMed is being used in real-life situations in Georgia. In this blog post, we look at one of those cases: Emory University and how they are applying our patented technology in two fields, emergency services in rural areas and emergency disaster response. A key component to the success of these programs is swyMed’s unparalleled ability to maintain a reliable internet connection, even in poor network conditions.

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EMTs treating patient on-site

How to Save $10 Billion Annually with EMS 4.0

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) pilot program was launched to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of patients beyond a hospital’s walls, particularly in ambulances “in the field”, with the goals of delivering health care services more efficiently and reducing unnecessary Emergency Department (ED) visits. The program was designed to align the incentives for EMS services so patients were treated in the care setting that made the most sense, i.e., EMS would be paid for providing mobile health care rather than only after transporting a patient to the ED. Five years later, with Americans more than comfortable receiving care via telemedicine, the health care industry is well-positioned to expand these services on a wider scale as video-enabled EMS 4.0, saving potentially $10 billion annually across the nation.

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Visual representation of mobile connectivity

What Makes swyMed’s Technology Different?

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While some well-known companies in the telemedicine industry have recently been in the headlines for growing pains, swyMed has firmly established itself as the leader in connecting providers and patients in circumstances that other platforms rarely even try. If the local network is overcrowded or has sparse coverage, causing fluctuating or poor network conditions, how can an application hold a steady connection to the internet or cloud server? swyMed has found a way to do exactly that.

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swyMed Now Available in Apple App Store

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Apple fans, rejoice! The swyMed app has returned to the Apple App Store, and it’s better than ever before! 

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Telemedicine for Emergency Rooms Raises Efficiency and Access to Hospital Beds

Telemedicine in Emergency Rooms: An Initial Look

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Overcrowding in emergency departments has long been a universal problem that ultimately compromises patient care quality and experience. Venturing into a seldom-studied niche, researchers explored the application of telemedicine in emergency rooms for care delivery; they found that implementing this practice led to reduced patients’ average lengths of stay and wait times while improving physicians’ efficiency and maintaining care quality and patient cost. Read more

Possible Telemedicine CPT Codes Shutdown Looms

Telemedicine CPT Codes in Danger

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We may still be in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that isn’t stopping policy makers from planning ahead to determine whether temporary telemedicine CPT codes should be a permanent part of the “new normal” that is expected to reign after the emergency situation dissipates. As mentioned previously, quick changes to legislation, especially those that reimburse telemedicine visits at the same value as in-office visits, made telemedicine a much more convenient and financially viable alternative to the traditional model of in-office visits—for both patients and providers. As we look ahead to 2021, however, debate surrounds the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’ decision to drop a large majority of the recently-enacted billing codes, which may return the state of telemedicine almost to where it was before the pandemic began. Read more

RPM reimbursement codes clear the way for expanding RPM programs, such as glucose monitoring for diabetes patients

RPM Reimbursement Paves the Way for Expansion in 2020

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With the ongoing shift in healthcare towards a value-based care model, the concept of remote patient monitoring (RPM) for chronically ill patients certainly grabbed attention throughout 2019. By introducing new reimbursement codes for RPM in late 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is clearly inviting the increased use of RPM, presumably made possible with telemedicine, in 2020. Some experts view 2019 as the trial run for RPM reimbursement; now that the CMS has officially endorsed RPM, albeit in limited capacities, 2020 is expected to see a significant rise in the adoption of RPM programs. However, current limitations in technology and software could curb growth, warn industry watchdogs. Read more

girl, using inhaler, embraces allergy telemedicine

Pediatric Allergy Telemedicine Welcomed by Patients and Families

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Last year, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) formally endorsed the use of telemedicine for allergy and immunology care. Now, after examining pediatric allergy patients’ experiences with asthma or allergy telemedicine over a three-year period, a team of researchers has found that roughly two-thirds of the respondents were equally satisfied with the telemedicine appointment as compared to a traditional, in-office appointment; the remaining one-third felt even more satisfied with the telemedicine encounter than an in-office visit. Read more

EMT first aid bag prior to emergency telemedicine program

Six Tips for Planning Your Emergency Telemedicine Program Smartly

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Five years ago, the Houston Fire Department (HFD) developed the Emergency Telehealth and Navigation (ETHAN) program as a way to respond to every call by providing the appropriate level of health care rather than bringing everyone to the emergency department—without using up resources to transport non-emergency patients. Since its inception, the ETHAN project has picked up a few tips that could prove helpful if your organization is designing, or will design, an emergency telemedicine program. Read more