Telehealth and Its Role
Telehealth and Its Role
Read the initial and secondary comments posted by your classmates and reflect upon them. Directly respond to at least one classmate in a way that extends meaningful discussions, adds new information, and/or offers alternative perspectives.
Jaydin Davis posted Jun 14, 2021 3:21 AM
Subscribe
The United States healthcare system underwent massive changes with the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. These changes have ensured that some U.S. healthcare delivery features have remained stable (Shi & Singh, 2017). However, the dynamics of healthcare mean that changes must occur to ensure the needs of consumers are met at all times. Various recommendations have been put in place to ensure that challenges are mitigated and that consumers’ needs are fulfilled. Technology will play an essential role in ensuring access and mitigating the issue of costs.
Telehealth and Its Role
Telehealth, or telemedicine, is defined as electronic communication to exchange medical information to improve patients’ health (Reed et al., 2017). Telehealth uses technologies like computers and mobile devices to access patient information remotely. Through telehealth, the physician can interact with the patient remotely, consult with them, and monitor their health. This improves access and mitigates costs, which has been a significant challenge in healthcare delivery. It is estimated that 60% of healthcare institutions currently use some form of telehealth (Reed et al., 2017).
Shifting Payment Methods to Value-Based Care
Shifting the payment method would help improve healthcare delivery in the United States. This entails a transition from payment for services to value-based care (Julia et al., 2016). Value-based care is a healthcare model where providers are paid based on health outcomes. The model ensures the quality of services and improved patient outcomes. Providers are rewarded for improving the health of their patients. The model would enhance healthcare delivery as patients benefit from lower costs and better care, while providers experience higher patient satisfaction.
References
Reed, M. E., Huang, J., Graetz, I., Lee, C., Muelly, E., Kennedy, C., & Kim, E. (2017). Patient-Provider Video Telemedicine Integrated With Clinical Care: Patient Experiences. Annals of Internal Medicine, 167(3), 219-225. https://doi.org/10.7326/M16-2852
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2017). Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. https://www.jblearning.com
