Telehealth will be the next generation of health. While the use of this technology is still limited due to a variety of reasons but we are moving towards a digital health sector. Find out more about the challenges to telehealth adoption and how healthcare providers can overcome these obstacles.
Need to Know the Barriers to Telehealth Implementation
Telehealth uses telecommunications and other related technologies in the healthcare industry. Although technology has been around for some time, however, it was the covid-19 epidemic that led to rapid growth and recognition of the telehealth system as a practical and cost-effective healthcare option.
Telehealth allows healthcare providers to offer health treatments remotely for patients who live in rural areas and even urban areas where patients cannot go to hospitals. This technology implies that patients don’t have to travel long distances to see a healthcare specialist. Instead, they can get in touch with top surgeons and physicians from any place in their home.
When we look at the potential positive effects of technology, it’s reasonable to assume that everything is shiny in this world. As we’ve mentioned previously, technology has been in the market for over 10 years. But, due to the numerous limitations of Telehealth, it is still a matter of few applications for the technology.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the major obstacles to telehealth adoption, as well as discuss potential technology enablers and the benefits that healthcare providers can gain from using Telehealth.
The Challenges in Using the Concept of Telehealth
Inaccessibility to Broadband
One of Telehealth’s main obstacles is the lack of infrastructure and accessibility to the latest technology. Broadband access is a significant obstacle that hinders the use of Telehealth, particularly in rural areas.
If we are talking about IoT solutions for healthcare and other that requires high-speed internet is of vital importance to ensure the smooth operation of the software. Healthcare professionals require reliable and stable broadband connectivity when creating a medical application to support Telehealth.
However, even in the United States, affordable and accessible broadband internet is unavailable in all locations, particularly in rural areas. There are still gaps that remain unsolved in the accessibility of broadband services that severely limit the accessibility of Telehealth to different parts of the country. Therefore, the government has to increase the accessibility to broadband throughout the country to lessen the barriers to Telehealth in rural regions.
The Inability to Pay
Another major obstacle to the implementation of telemedicine. From the perspective of healthcare professionals, the most appealing aspect of the telehealth system is that it allows the practice to make more money by making contact with a huge amount of patients who are located in remote locations. While the accessibility of healthcare is the main USP of Telehealth, the way to pay for services is not always clear.
The reimbursement of telehealth services has been a complicated issue for healthcare professionals for quite a while. It is because reimbursements are only provided to services covered under the Medicare Chronic Management Program. It means that only those services provided to patients with multiple chronic illnesses are eligible to be reimbursed. Additionally, healthcare professionals can claim reimbursement only for treatments provided to patients suffering from chronic health issues for a minimum of an entire year.
To make matters worse, Telehealth services are not provided by private insurance providers, further complicating healthcare professionals’ reimbursement procedures. Therefore, it’s crucial to eliminate the obstacles to reimbursement that significantly hinder healthcare providers’ desire to utilize Telehealth. It is suggested that a software development company for telemedicine can design a specialized platform that will track costs and document the services provided by healthcare providers. It will aid in reducing the issues of reimbursement faced by doctors and medical professionals and improve the rates of telehealth integration.
Training and Education.
Education and training deficiencies create another significant hurdle to the introduction of Telehealth. The resistance to adopting technologies is seen in all industries as well, and that applies to the healthcare industry.
Beyond the technology, it was the resistance within individuals (doctors and patients, too) toward the technology that kept the adoption of Telehealth to a minimum for nearly 10 years. In reality, if it weren’t for the covid-19 epidemic, we’d be talking about the telehealth system instead of using it.
However, the most important thing to do to overcome the resistance within individuals is to give them the training and education they require and to educate them about the technology. The pandemic has already accelerated the introduction of Telehealth and forced numerous healthcare professionals to become acquainted with the latest technology. Now is the time for healthcare authorities and institutions to organize specific awareness and training camps to reduce those who are resistant to their patients towards technology.
For patients, there is an obstacle to using Telehealth due to a lack of awareness and training. It is particularly true for people with a disability who aren’t confident with the use of technology. It is crucial to overcome this issue to adopt a simple and easy healthcare application development strategy. It can help lower obstacles to adoption for patients as they will feel more comfortable using the app. Additionally, the authorities should create special awareness and training programs to aid patients in gaining familiarity with the telehealth system.
The Hucu.ai application is so easy that even an older person with minimum know-how about technology can operate it. Hucu.ai improves communication to make that easier. With a simple HIPAA-compliant app, homecare aides connect with their supervisors, therapists, and referral partners. The added support means seniors can stay in their homes safely longer. Hucu.ai support provides improved communication for improved peace of mind.
Beating the Obstacles in the Implementation of the Telehealth System
Working In Conjunction with the Existing Infrastructure
In the future, infrastructure gapping will exist, and that’s something we have to accept. Instead of worrying about these inefficiencies and waiting until they are filled, healthcare professionals need to acknowledge gaps and use the infrastructure that they have.
The most important thing is to begin implementing Telehealth on an initial level without worrying about infrastructure issues. Because it is a relatively new tech, there are certain obstacles initially, but as time passes, they will decrease, and new opportunities will be created as technology develops.
Partnering With Other Organizations
One of the best methods to reduce the technological hurdles in telehealth implementation is collaborating with the appropriate technology firm. When you have the right technology partner, healthcare facilities can make it easier to manage the whole process of healthcare application development and decrease internal resistance to technology by offering lively and interactive training sessions. Additionally, when you employ doctors to develop medical applications, you’ll get an IT partner who understands the complexity involved in the creation and implementation process and will take the necessary steps to reduce barriers in implementing telehealth solutions for healthcare professionals and patients.
What are the Advantages of Telehealth for an Organization in the Field of Healthcare?
The Benefits of Telehealth Implementation
Now having gone over the challenges to implementing Telehealth and possible solutions to overcome these obstacles, let’s swiftly look at the advantages of Telehealth for healthcare institutions.
Imagine a world with no boundaries (well, it’s impossible to reach it through politics, but we are sure to attain it in healthcare). The help of Telehealth allows healthcare facilities to eliminate any geographic barriers to provide high-quality healthcare services and boost the profit margins of their business.
No-shows are among the most common causes of doctors losing money. But, thanks to the latest technology, doctors can stay in touch with patients and provide them with notifications and reminders regarding their appointment. Additionally, because patients will not have to travel physically, the number of no-shows can be drastically reduced with the implementation of Telehealth.
Telehealth solutions also enhance the efficiency overall and flow in healthcare. It’s because video consultations are discovered to be less time-consuming than in-person consultations. Therefore, by using telehealth services, doctors can treat more patients in less time, improving their efficiency in practice and increasing their profits.
Make a Good Start to Your Telehealth Journey by Using Hucu.ai
Remote medical treatment has been proven to be an essential requirement for patients in the United States. Modern communication technology has drastically increased healthcare access for millions of Americans and eliminated many problems arising from the distance between physicians and patients.
If you’re looking to move to Telehealth or add remote medical services to your healthcare facility, Hucu.ai is the best HIPAA-compliant telehealth solution.
