The Rise Of Telemedicine In Endocrinology: Benefits & Challenges

Due to the rapid spread of SARS coronavirus 2 in the United States (U.S.), social distancing and stay-at-home orders have been enacted in various states, focusing attention on innovative models of care that eliminate in-person clinic visits. The drastic help has been observed in the telehealth endocrinologist segment. Telehealth refers to using telecommunications and virtual technology to provide health care outside typical healthcare settings. This technology has evolved as a tool to aid in the “flattening of the curve.” Furthermore, telemedicine frees practitioners from the burden of cumbersome, restrictive personal protection equipment (PPE). Clinicians are thus experimenting with new ways of interacting with patients to avoid disruptions in clinical care. It is the acceptable solution to render Endocrinology Telemedicine Services.

Rise Of Telemedicine in the Healthcare Industry

The American Telemedicine Association established an online patient consultation, accreditation program in 2015 to recognize firms that provide online. These real-time patient health services meet operational, clinical, and consumer-related standards. Besides telemedicine endocrinology has paved the way with the rise of telemedicine.

The program emphasizes patient safety, operational openness, and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Telehealth, telemedicine, and related concepts are defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as “the exchange of medical information from one site to another via electronic communication to enhance a patient’s health.”

As of March 6, 2020, Medicare will pay for office, hospital, and other telehealth visits provided across the country. Including in patients’ homes, under the new 1135 waiver. Patients can get telehealth services from physicians, nurse practitioners, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers. Before the 1135 waiver, Medicare only paid for telehealth in certain circumstances. The person getting the service had to be from a defined rural area and had to go to a clinic, hospital, or certain other types of medical facilities for remote treatment.

Rise of Virtual Visits for Better Hospitality

CMS classifies virtual visits into telehealth visits, virtual check-ins, and e-visits.

1. Telehealth visits

These are similar to in-person visits in that they involve interactive real-time audio-video communication between a clinician at a remote location and the patient at home.

2. Virtual Check-ins

Virtual check-ins are quick communication services with a practitioner via various communication technologies, such as synchronous telephone talk or information exchange by video or image.

3. E-visits

These non-face-to-face small conversations initiated by patients through online patient portals with their doctor are accommodated with the help of telehealth software.

4. Electronic Consultations (e-consults)

The asynchronous clinician-to-clinician discussions based on record reviews from inpatient and outpatient settings may eliminate the need for face-to-face specialist appointments. E-consultation programs are becoming increasingly popular.

A recent systematic review stated that there might be publication bias in those favorable outcomes of e-consults are more likely to be published and that more rigorous research on e-consults is needed.

Pandemic & Telehealth Solutions

Following the December 2019 epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), also known as the novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, in Wuhan, China, the disease has spread fast across numerous nations. On January 20, 2020, the first case was confirmed in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization proclaimed COVID-19 a pandemic.

Following the presidential designation of COVID-19 as a national emergency in the United States on March 13, 2020, multiple states issued stay-at-home orders on various dates. Following that, the CMS expanded access to Medicare Telehealth services to allow its beneficiaries to receive a full range of services from their physicians without visiting a health care facility, lowering their chance of contracting the virus and putting others at risk.

Acceptance of Telehealth Solution as the Saviour

Under the 1135 waiver, Medicare agreed to pay healthcare facilities for care delivered to its beneficiaries via telehealth across the country on a temporary and emergency basis to prevent the virus’s community spread.

Furthermore, as of March 27, 2020, the CMS had granted the 1135 waiver for Medicaid beneficiaries in 34 States. The CMS finalized policies on April 5, 2020, improving plan options and benefits, including allowing Medicare Advantage plans to offer more telehealth features.

CMS issued a second round of adjustments to boost telehealth on April 30, 2020, and agreed to increase compensation for phone visits. In reaction to COVID-19, many states have provided emergency waivers to providers with out-of-state credentials. Furthermore, the Federation of States Medical Boards (FSMB) provides timely assistance in providing critical information required to verify licenses and credentials for physicians and other healthcare professionals wishing to practice across state lines to treat patients in areas heavily impacted by COVID-19.

Policy solutions to increasing telehealth are an appropriate start in addressing this epidemic with severe socio-economic consequences in the United States and elsewhere. According to the New York Times database, as of May 27, 2020, more than 1.7 million people in the United States had tested positive for the virus, and more than 100,000 had died. However, as the use of telehealth grows, information about adoption rates in various practice settings and geographic locales will be invaluable.

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