Telehealth is getting popular worldwide with the growing acceptance of using smartphones, laptops and digital devices to access and share medical information.

Six ways to explore the potential of telehealth amidst the coronavirus pandemic:

1. Using the surge in telehealth due to COVID-19:

Virtual visits in the U.S. will reach 1 billion by the end of this year since coronavirus has hit the globe. Italy has been majorly hit by the pandemic.

Healthcare providers in Italy have urged their colleagues around the world to utilize home-based care. Telehealth can be used to screen and triage patients who might be infected by coronavirus and also to keep non-COVID-19 patients, home to reduce further spread of the virus.

2. Physician concerns:

Main concerns of physicians are:

Does it work? Will I receive payment? Will I be liable? And will it work in my practice?

Physicians find that things have improved as state and federal laws and regulations have eased with new models, fewer regulatory barriers and greater reimbursement.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes have been swift. Medicare coverage of the tool has expanded temporarily during the pandemic. Now clinicians receive similar amounts of reimbursement as in-person visits to Medicare beneficiaries across the U.S.

The aim remains to limit the risk of exposure and further spread of the virus among the senior population. It includes telehealth coverage for mental health counseling, preventive health screenings and common office visits.

Brian Levy, MD, is president and chief medical officer of Peak Informatics, a medical director for MDLive, and a HIMSS Physician Committee member.

He says with telehealth too you can establish patient-physician rapport and gentle bonding just like a regular office setting.

3. When and when not to use telehealth:

Physicians are concerned about diagnosing and treating patients without physical examination but many issues are being alleviated as patients can appear on video and upload high-resolution photos from their phones. Appropriate clinical decisions and treatment are now possible through telehealth.

4. Long term care:

There are some great opportunities for virtual care in “asynchronous care,” or the ability to deliver health care and information not in real-time. This helps significantly in managing conditions like high blood sugar or blood sugar management. Patients can receive treatment based on data collected during virtual visits, then evaluated by primary care physicians or specialists.

5. Improve access:

Virtual visits give increased access among rural and undeserved populations. The majority of low-income individuals do have a smartphone, so virtual visits are possible thus, reducing obstacles to care like having reliable transportation and taking time off work.

Behavioral health can also benefit significantly through telehealth.

6. Educate patients on virtual visits:

Telehealth is getting sophisticated as patients of all ages learn to use the phones and computers to connect with healthcare providers to share images, data of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

Doctors now are learning to gather critical information as they watch videos and listen to the audio to assess the patients. Examination becomes more useful as patients share data gathered through their own diagnostic equipment like home glucose meter or thermometer.

Clinical staff can also educate patients ahead of time about preparing for a virtual visit, shared John Sharp, MSSA, PMP, FHIMSS, Director, Thought Advisory, Personal Connected Health Alliance and HIMSS.

Telehealth will stay and expand well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lifecycle Health is a telehealth platform that helps you connect with healthcare providers through Video eVisits, secure patient and provider messaging, sharing of medical images and much more.