5 Technologies Shaping the Future of Telemedicine

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a major driver of telemedicine and telehealth adoption in the US and across the globe. According to a Sage Growth Partner survey, 69% of respondents are ready to switch to telehealth visits if their healthcare provider offers such an opportunity.

The increased demand on both the healthcare providers’ and the recipients’ sides comes with a set of challenges, including:

• The enactment of ONC and CMS final rules in the US and other regulatory acts across the world will significantly impact healthcare providers, health IT vendors, health plans and patients in the years ahead;
• The need to train health professionals, from doctors to nurses to technicians, on how to use the telemedicine software and hardware securely and efficiently. The initial adoption of each new technology may come with pushback and cause slower response time;
• The alignment of telehealth regulations across the state and international borders. Medical data protection, secure storage, transfer, and processing are critical concerns along with written informed consent, online prescription, and medical licensing issues;
• The remote monitoring equipment is required to enable patients to perform diagnostic procedures and forward data to medical professionals without face-to-face visits.

Tech Trends in Telehealth

Authorities with the support of health IT developers, healthcare providers and payers are now working on overcoming the above challenges and incorporating solutions into existing and up-and-coming services. Non-face-to-face visits are the core of telehealth, and they are performed via:

• Telephone calls. This makes telemedicine accessible and easy-to-use for senior citizens and other patients without Internet access;
• Videoconference consultations. Practitioners will be able to assess the symptoms, diagnose conditions, and provide services such as psychological, or dermatological care;
• Virtual visits. This helps to distribute the value of centralized specialists across a large number of patients;
• eConsultation software for desktop or mobile devices that connects patients to medical professionals;
• Mobile health solutions. These apps transform every mobile device into a monitoring sensor and distribute medical information wirelessly.

The New Normal of Healthcare

Traditionally, healthcare has been slow to change, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the industry to adapt. Within a few short months, legislators altered regulations, IT companies came up with telemedicine solutions and devised safe ways to store and process sensitive data, healthcare professionals and patients learned to use the digital tools.

Considering the powerful boost telehealth received during the pandemic, we could be sure it will become the new norm and will continue its explosive growth.