It’s well-known that a physician’s bedside manner can help him reassure and relate to a patient, but what about “webside” manner? With the growing popularity of telemedicine, the bulk of the attention is given to the technology driving the industry, but providers are finding that their body language cues are taking on entirely new meanings in front of the webcam. Read more
In Rochester, Minnesota, obstetricians have a new tool in their arsenal: emergency telemedicine for newborns. Ten community hospitals are using the technology to consult with neonatologists at the Mayo Clinic for issues such as newborn resuscitation, resulting in higher patient safety, increased quality of care, and reduced transfers to the neonatal ICU at Mayo. Read more
Thanks to an ongoing shortage of psychiatrists in Idaho, patients are often unable to seek help for mental or behavioral health issues until the condition has become severe enough to require hospitalization. In an effort to provide relief, Saint Alphonsus Health System has partnered with the University of Washington to create a telepsychiatry program, bringing psychiatric residents virtually to rural Idaho and Oregon. Read more
In one of the first published studies to measure exactly how often telemedicine is utilized, Harvard Medical School researchers discovered that telemedicine use among Medicare patients grew roughly 28 percent each year between 2004 and 2013. This rise is even more impressive in light of Medicare’s restrictive reimbursement policy: Medicare only pays for telemedicine visits if the patient lives in a rural area and travels to a clinic for the telemedicine visit. Read more
As mentioned last week, swyMed has been chosen for the 2016 Innovation Showcase, which features the 20 most promising startup companies in the telecommunications industry. swyMed COO/CCO Jeffrey Urdan recently spoke with RCR Wireless News about some of swyMed’s cutting-edge features. Read more
When you think of telemedicine, what comes to mind—a doctor performing a video consult on a computer screen, perhaps? That’s certainly part of telemedicine, but thanks to mobile technology and software with low bandwidth requirements, physicians can now connect with their clinics and patients from nearly anywhere. Read more
Patients with Parkinson’s disease are used to devoting an entire day and driving long miles to be seen by a specialist. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. Thanks to telemedicine, though, this could soon change. Last fall, Rush University Medical Center launched a telemedicine pilot program that allows patients to visit their physicians virtually, from the comfort of their own homes. Read more
Although telemedicine is a rapidly growing field, some physicians remain resistant—perhaps due to misconceptions about the technology. While we can’t help you overcome the inertia of trying something new, we can help you debunk the most common myths with the following telemedicine facts. Read more
The growing acceptance of telemedicine is bringing changes in the way medical care is delivered. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned expert, below are a few intriguing facts you might not know, courtesy of Becker’s Hospital Review. Read more
According to a recent article in Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, managing diabetes at home is about to become easier. Many types of data—such as blood glucose levels, food intake, and exercise patterns—can be measured, transmitted securely, and analyzed. So far, studies suggest that telemedicine for diabetes care can lead to better outcomes at lower costs. Read more
