Telehealth is here to stay. While it was necessary during the pandemic and any future elements of it that may linger, the benefits of telehealth has found a more permanent place in modern medicine. It will continue to play a large role in medical care. It will also play a large role in affecting the Case Management and how patients meet recovery requirements. It may be easier to keep tabs on patients and ensure they are following protocol through telehealth check ups that require less time. A simple appointment of follow up care can be an easier way to manage patient care following procedure.
The article, “8 benefits of Telehealth” by Siemens Healthineers looks at the benefits of telehealth. The article discusses 8 pertinent benefits of telehealth to healthcare. Among the many are better patient outcomes which is essential in case management. The flexibility, adherence of the patient and cost reduction all play key roles into cheaper healthcare in the future as well as better case management. It is believed that telehealth is here to stay after the pandemic and that is a good thing. The article states,
“The benefits of telehealth are striking, offering hospitals the chance to brand themselves as innovative and using cutting-edge technologically. And while the pandemic has pushed telehealth forward, its ability to provide a high level of medical care in numerous situations will make telehealth a permanent fixture in healthcare. Continuous improvements in technology and further simplifications of tedious processes support this evolution.”
“8 benefits of Telehealth”. Siemens Healthineers. February 15th, 2022. Healthcare ITnews.
To read the entire article, please click here
Commentary
Case Management and Telehealth
Case management is a process of coordinating care for patients with chronic conditions. Due to this, telehealth can help case managers. This can include real-time interactive services such as live video conferencing, as well as asynchronous services such as store-and-forward imaging. Telehealth is often used to support remote patient monitoring, provide consultative services, or deliver continuing medical education.
There is evidence that suggests that case managers using telehealth can be just as effective as traditional in-person case management, if not more so. A study published in the Journal of Case Management found that patients who received care from a case manager via telehealth had better outcomes than those who received in-person case management. The study found that patients in the telehealth group were more likely to receive preventive care services and to have their chronic diseases managed effectively. Case managers using telehealth can provide their clients with real-time access to medical specialists for consultation, education, and treatment. This delivery model can also be used to facilitate care coordination between providers, which is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.
Telehealth truly helps case managers with better patient outcomes. There is a growing body of evidence that supports the use of telehealth in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes. Studies have shown that telehealth can lead to improved patient outcomes, including increased satisfaction with care, improved compliance with treatment plans, and reduced hospital readmission rates. While more research is needed to determine the best ways to leverage telehealth technology to achieve optimal results, the existing evidence suggests that telehealth is a promising tool for improving patient care.
Conclusion
In conclusion, telehealth has the potential to improve case management by providing real-time access to data and patient status, as well as facilitating communication between care team members. With these improvements, telehealth has the potential to improve care coordination and patient outcomes. It is clear that telehealth has many benefits that can lead to better patient outcomes. These benefits include increased access to care, improved communication between patients and providers, and lower costs. Telehealth can also help to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. As more and more people use telehealth services, it is likely that these benefits will continue to increase.
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Case Management. After completing the required courses, qualified professionals can then apply for the four year certification.
With the emergence of telehealth, case management will profoundly change in the 21st Century and many nurses can take advantage of this exciting field by becoming certified through AIHCP.
Additional Resources
“What Is Telehealth?”. NEJM Catalyst. February 21st, 2018. NEJM: Innovations in Care Delivery. Access here
“Using Telehealth to Deliver Nursing Case Management Services to HIV/AIDS Clients”. Jennifer Lillibridge, RN, PhD, etc. al. November 26th, 2008. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Access here
“Exploring the Benefits of Telehealth Case Management”. Renato Parletta. October 14th, 2022. Insight. Access here
“Telehealth and Telemedicine”. CDC. July 8th, 2020. CDC. Access here
“Telehealth: Mapping the Evidence for Patient Outcomes From Systematic Reviews [Internet]”. Annette Totten, etc, al. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2016 Jun. Report No.: 16-EHC034-EF. AHRQ Comparative Effectiveness Technical Briefs. Access here