Successful telehealth driving market growth
Several market estimates peg telehealth services for rapid and significant growth in coming years and results of clinical studies indicate that the investment is worthwhile.
A Mayo Clinic study found that telestroke is an effective means to delivering quality emergency stroke care to remote hospitals and improving patient outcomes. The study involved a telestroke robot that allows a patient with stroke to be examined in real time by a remote neurology specialist who consults via computer with an emergency room physician at another site, usually a rural hospital, which may not have neurology specialists. Mayo Clinic provides telestroke care by acting as a single source of specialized care to connect a network of multiple spoke hospitals.
Compared with no network, a telestroke system consisting of a single hub and seven spoke hospitals resulted in the appropriate use of more clot-busting drugs, more catheter-based interventional procedures and other stroke therapies, with more stroke patients discharged home independently, according to the study.
A pilot telehealth program in Mississippi will address the diabetes epidemic with an $1.2 million investment in an 18-month remote care management program to help rural patients with diabetes better manage their condition.
Each participant will receive a tablet with a customized program for diabetes management. They will upload biometrics, in particular glucose levels, via Bluetooth into a portal where a team of telehealth nurses will monitor patients' progress. Telehealth nurses will engage participants and answer any questions that may arise.
These are just two examples of the efforts underway that are expected to drive telehealth services. An HIS technology report, for instance, estimated telehealth services to rise from from fewer than 350,000 in 2013 to about 7 million in 2018. And, worldwide revenue for telehealth devices and services also is expected to increase--from $440.6 million in 2013 to $4.5 billion in 2018, according to the report, "World Market for Telehealth – 2014 Edition."
Are your providers incorporating telehealth into their services? Please share your experience.
Beth Walsh
Clinical Innovation + Technology editor
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.