American Well, a Boston-based telemedicine technology solutions provider, tackled common telehealth myths, as reported by HealthcareIT News.
Here are some debunked myths:
1. Contrary to popular belief, telehealth exceeds just urgent care needs. Although health systems initially turned to telehealth for urgent care, the true return-on-investment will come from other areas, such as chronic condition management.
2. Back in the early stages, when telehealth consisted of a phone call between provider and patient, the practice may have not offered a "thorough examination." Adding smartphones and video to the equation allows telehealth to meet the demands of modern medicine, however.
3. Although many providers are hesitant to implement telehealth until they are guaranteed reimbursement, American Well argues there is no time to waste. Consumers want accessible, convenient care and may actively seek providers who offer telehealth. Reimbursement will also likely come along quickly if providers can demonstrate positive results and outcomes with telehealth.
Visit HealthcareIT News to see other debunked telehealth myths.